NewzVille Desk
To boost to India’s space sector, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will assume full commercial control of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) program within two years. This marks the first time such a transfer is being made to a public sector unit.
The landmark move stems from a strategic technology transfer by ISRO, facilitated by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe). It is expected to accelerate India’s goal of becoming a global hub for small satellite launches.
IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Goenka, who said the SSLV – developed by ISRO with years of proven reliability—will be commercialized through HAL. He emphasized this will fast-track India’s entry into the global small satellite launch market.
Dr. Goenka added that private sector firms such as Skyroot Aerospace and AgniKul Cosmos are also building their own rockets. To support the growing ecosystem, a dedicated launch center is being built at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
India’s space economy has seen rapid expansion, with more than 300 startups now active – up from just 30 three years ago. Dr. Goenka noted that this explosion of innovation is key to India’s push for leadership in the global space sector.
He predicted India would enter the top three space economies globally within 8 to 10 years. The nation is already in the top five, fueled by growing public-private collaboration and rising private investment in satellite and launch technology.
A major upcoming initiative is an Earth Observation satellite constellation project, currently out for bids. Valued at around ₹1,500 crore, it will be awarded to a private company and could surpass even the SSLV project in scale and impact.
On human spaceflight, Dr. Goenka hailed astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the International Space Station as a historic moment. He called it a precursor to India’s Gaganyaan program, the country’s first planned manned spaceflight mission in decades.
