The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is seeking increased industry participation in its commercial launch vehicle programme.
Following the successful first commercial launch of India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in May, ISRO wants the country's manufacturing industry to upgrade its role from that of supplying launch vehicle subsystems to becoming system integrators (Flight International, 2-8 June).
India is promoting the PSLV as a flexible and versatile launch vehicle. Although it is designed to carry a 1,200kg (2,650lb) satellite into an 820km polar sun-synchronous orbit, it can also be configured for multiple payloads - two of 500kg, or a 1,000kg satellite with up to two microsatellites as piggyback payloads. ISRO says that, with industry support, India could conduct up to three PSLV missions a year.
"Our policy is to pursue research and development in advanced technologies and transfer manufacturing activities to industry," a senior ISRO official says. "The long-term goal is to get an Indian industry consortium to take over entire launch vehicle production, while launches will be ISRO responsibility," the official adds.
More than 60% of the launch vehicle's hardware is supplied by 150 companies, including structures, motor cases, electronics, heat shield, liquid engine and precision coherent radars.
Source: Flight International
