ISRO Opens Doors for Private Sector to Build India’s Heaviest Rocket, Boosting Space Market Position

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Image Source: Business Today

In a landmark move, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has invited private firms to take part in the manufacturing of the Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), India’s most powerful rocket to date. This initiative, managed by ISRO’s commercial arm New Space India Limited (NSIL), aims to amplify India’s standing in the global space market, according to experts.

Formerly known as GSLV-MkIII, LVM3 is an integral part of Indian space exploration, with outstanding Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 lunar missions. It is capable of launching satellites of up to 4 tons in earth orbit and 8 tons in low earth orbit. LVM3 stands as the cornerstone of India’s future in aerospace technology. The recent NSIL invitation describes a 14-year strategic partnership with a selected private sector firm. The first two years will focus on the technology transfer and development phase, followed by a 12-year project in which the private partner is expected to produce up to four to six LVM3 rockets per year.

Lieutenant General Anil Kumar Bhatt (retd), director general of the Indian Space Association, highlighted that commercializing the LVM3 would broaden the array of Indian launch vehicles available on the global market, potentially increasing India’s market share. This move comes at a crucial time when global options are limited — SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is currently the dominant vehicle for heavy payloads due to restrictions and operational limitations on Russian and Chinese rockets, and European and Japanese alternatives are still in testing phases.

By privatizing the production of LVM3, ISRO aims at developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which is part of India’s ambitious plan to set up its own space station and lunar mission. In the human resources sector, the strategic changes are aimed at making India a more important player in the international arena.

Apart from LVM3, ISRO is also extending private operational opportunities for other rockets such as the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), and especially the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The first privately built PSLV is scheduled for launch in August this year, marking another important milestone in India’s efforts to privatize space. Akshat Johari, deputy director of government-owned business consulting firm IIFCL, described the decision as “a great opportunity.” He pointed to the growing market demand for satellite launches, especially in low earth orbit, and sees this as a golden opportunity for India to deploy LVM3 where needed.

ISRO’s invitation to the private sector to build the LVM3 is more than just an expansion of India’s industrial capabilities in space technology. It is a strategic move designed to take advantage of India’s advanced technology to grab a bigger share of the international space market at a time when global demand for satellite launches continues to rise. This initiative promises not only to improve India’s space strategy but also to strengthen its position as a leader in the global space race.

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Yangchula Bhutia
Yangchula BhutiaContent Editor
Yangchula Bhutia is a budding journalist currently pursuing her Master's degree in Journalism at Jadavpur University. Her passion lies in environmental issues, and she aspires to make a difference through impactful storytelling focused on environmental challenges and solutions.

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