IRNSS-1H: Isro to launch India's first satellite jointly built with pvt cos today

So far, private firms have only built components and systems for India's satellites and rockets

This article first appeared on Business Standard on August 30, 2017

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India's first satellite that is co-assembled by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) with a private consortium is set for launch on Thursday, a landmark for the country's attempt to involve local firms in spacecraft production.

The IRNSS-1H, or the backup navigation satellite Navic with a new atomic clock, is being hurled into space on Thursday on the home-grown Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (Pslv) rocket. This satellite is the first of the two satellites - being contracted by Isro to a consortium of small firms led by Alpha