Indian Space Association (ISpA) | 13 Oct 2021
Why in News
Recently, the Prime Minister has launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA) via video conferencing. ISpA will act as a single-window and independent agency on matters related to space technology.
- The PM also remarked that the Government's approach to space reforms is based on 4 pillars.
Key Points
- About ISpA:
- ISpA aspires to be the collective voice of the Indian Space industry. ISpA will be represented by leading domestic and global corporations that have advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies.
- ISpA will undertake Policy Advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian Space domain, including the Government and its Agencies, to make India self-reliant, technologically advanced and a leading player in the space arena.
- ISpA will also work towards building global linkages for the Indian space industry to bring in critical technology and investments into the country to create more high skill jobs.
- Significance of ISpA:
- One of the main goals of the organisation is to supplement the government’s efforts towards making India a global leader in commercial space-based excursions.
- Of late, ISRO’s rockets have been carrying the payload and communication satellites of various countries; now, private players will also look to touch on this space with the new organisation.
- Several private sector companies have shown an interest in India’s space domain, with space-based communication networks coming to the fore.
- Other Related Organisations:
- IN-SPACE: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was approved in 2020 to provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.
- NSIL: In the 2019 Budget, the government had announced the setting up of a New Space India Limited (NSIL), a public sector company that would serve as a marketing arm of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
- Its main purpose is to market the technologies developed by ISRO and bring it more clients that need space-based services.
- That role, incidentally, was already being performed by Antrix Corporation, another public sector undertaking working under the Department of Space, and which still exists.
- Four Pillars of Space Reforms:
- Allowing the private sector freedom of innovation.
- Government playing the enabler's role.
- Preparing youngsters for the future.
- Recently, ATL Space Challenge 2021 has been launched. This is to ensure that students of classes 6 to 12 are given an open platform where they can innovate and enable themselves to solve digital age space technology problems.
- Treating the space sector as a resource for the progress of the common man.
- Development projects are being monitored by satellite imaging, space technology is being used in settlement of Fasal Bima Yojna claims and disaster management planning, and the NAVIC system is helping fishermen.