Space Funding

Space start-up Galaxeye is set to launch its first-of-a-kind satellite that would generate images of the earth fusing data from optical and radar sensors, which have applications in sectors ranging from defence to agriculture. The start-up plans to launch "Mission Drishti", a multi-sensory earth observation satellite, in the first quarter of this year and scale it up to a constellation of 10 satellites by 2030. "Mission Drishti represents a global first: a single satellite platform that has integrated radar sensing and optical imaging, while also standing as India's largest privately developed satellite," Suyash Singh, co-founder and CEO of GalaxEye, told PTI. GalaxEye plans to deploy two more satellites by the end of the next few years and six-seven more satellites by the end of the decade, scaling the total satellite constellation to 10 by 2030, enabling near real time data delivery at scale, Singh said. "This dedicated constellation will unlock time sensitive applications across

IN-SPACe and SIDBI Venture Capital have signed a contribution agreement to operationalise the Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund aimed at boosting innovation and private participation in space sector

Isro chairman V Narayanan says commercial expansion will require upgrades in infrastructure, industry-led development, and manufacturing capabilities to meet rising demand

Two space cities planned in Lepakshi and Tirupati, spanning 33,000 acres, to attract global investments and align with Centre's Rs 1.5 trillion space sector roadmap

Isro's tech expertise has found wider uses. Now, IN-SPACe is driving deeper tech transfers to power the private sector's orbital lift-off

This follows the opening up of space to private participatio­n in June 2020, the Indian Spa­ce Policy of 2023, and a luc­­r­ative foreign direct investment policy of February 2024

Funding in the third quarter was up 18 per cent from a year earlier at $1.9 billion, with an average deal size of $18 million, according to the report

Pixxel becomes part of the Nasa's $476 million Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program

SERA, a US-based agency, is planning to offer six seats on a future mission of New Shepard, Blue Origin's reusable suborbital rocket, to citizens from various countries

The allocation for space department saw a modest 4 per cent increase, from Rs 12,545 crore to Rs 13,043 crore in the Interim Union Budget 2024

EAM Jaishankar also engaged in discussions with prominent corporate figures from the country who offered positive feedback on India's growth story

Indigenous cryogenic engine lift-off for India's space programme

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday allocated nearly Rs 12,544 crore to the Department of Space as India plans a human spaceflight - Gaganyaan - next year and sets out to explore the moon and neighbouring planets. The allocation is about 8 per cent lower than the Budget Estimate of Rs 13,700 crore for 2022-23, which was slashed to Rs 10,530.04 crore in the Revised Estimate. The largest chunk of the allocation -- to the tune of Rs 11,669.41 crore -- has gone to central sector schemes or projects such as the human spaceflight centre and various institutions of the department that deal with launch vehicle and satellite projects, including developmental and operational initiatives. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-Space), the government's single-window body to deal with the private sector, received Rs 95 crore allocation against Rs 21 crore in the Revised Estimate. A large portion of the allocation, Rs 53 crore, has been earmarked for capital ..

According to the ISRO, to encourage participation of private sector, a suitable mechanism will be worked out for promotion and hand holding, sharing of technology and expertise

As India becomes more and more self-reliant in the dual use of space, young startups like Kawa Space now have an opportunity to collaborate with the nation

In launch vehicles, Isro expects to fly its first small rocket with a carrying capacity of 500-700 kg in the next few months

Many Indian Space Research Organisation employees are leaving the comfort of a paycheck and launching their own startups