On higher ground

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AT a conference of academics on Indo-US relations on February 9, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisaton Dr Madhavan Nair lookedpleased as he spoke of how graduallyIndo-US space cooperation was taking off. 8216;8216;It is of great importance to us,8217;8217; he said. He then went to call a soon-to-be finalised tie-up with NASA to carry two US instruments on India8217;s Chandrayan 1 moon mission 8216;a landmark event8217;8217;. With the US moving towards relaxing policies that prevented its space industry from collaborating with India on space missions, the Indian space industry is seeing new opportunities for itself in the global business.

While the Indian Space Research Organisation is best known for developing space technologies for the socio-economic development of the country and for its strategic interests, the space agency has since globalisation seen the steady vaulting of revenues from the commercial stream of its enterprise. From revenues of Rs 50 lakh in 1992, when ISRO8217;s marketing arm Antrix Corporation was set up, revenues touched Rs 367.17 crore in 2004-058212;including a Rs 39.43 crore profit after tax.

Nearly 35 per cent of the revenue came from the leasing of telecommunication transponders from the Insat series of communication satellites, about 10 per cent from the sale of remote sensing data from the IRS series of remote sensing satellites, about five per cent from payload launch contracts and the remainder from ground satellite system services in India which has been built around technology spawned by ISRO.

BUT, despite a recent, almost blemishless record in demonstrating launch vehicle technology and satellite launches, the Indian space industry is still a fledgling power in the global space business in comparison to NASA, the European Space Agency, Russia and even China.

In the most lucrative of the components in the space business8212;commercial payload launches8212;ISRO is still at scratch in a global 2 billion business per annum market. ISRO has launched only four 8216;lightweight8217; commercial satellites8212;Germany8217;s DLR-Tubsat and Bird, Korea8217;s Kitsat-3 and Belgium8217;s Proba, on the polar satellite launch vehicle to date. However five commercial launches are being lined up over the next two years8212;Italy8217;s Agile, a Singapore Nanyang Technology University satellite, Indonesia8217;s Lapang Tubsat, a nano satellite for Argentina and a fifth satellite which ISRO officials refuse to name. Despite India offering one of the best global rates for satellite launches, Russia has in recent years by converting its former missiles to launch vehicles for smaller satellites, at throwaway prices, depressed the lightweight satellite launch business, say ISRO officials.


The Space Route Commercial spin offs from Indian space research The Indian Space Research Organisation has since 1972 transferred 268 different technologies developed by it for space programmes to industries in India. ISRO currently holds 150-patented technologies, 10 trademarks and 13 copyrights. Rocket structures, liquid propulsion engines, fuel and launch pad technologies for ISROrsquo;s space programmes have all been outsourced. ISRO is currently trying to develop a satellite technology that will enable cable television viewing in automobiles. lsquo;lsquo;While ISRO focuses on research and development and mission management several technologies have been commercialised through the private sector in order to increase the spread of Indiarsquo;s space industry. Nearly 70 per cent of technology is now outsourced,rsquo;rsquo; says Antrix Corporation executive director K R Sridhar Murthi.

Popular technologies to evolve out of ISRO
8226; The V-Sats and ground systems across the country that network businesses, banks
8226; Chemicals and adhesives used in the aircraft industry
8226; Geo-spatial information from remote sensing satellites that create geographical information systems
8226; A heart valve from space age material for people with defective valves
8226; Dentures from space age materialmdash;not commercialised yet
8226; Light weight artificial limbs for the handicapped
8226; In medical image processing
8226; Heat retardants and flame retardants
8226; A PC based video-audio data archiving and quick retrieval system

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As the launch business starts to evolve in the coming years, closer links with the US space industry will open up opportunities for ISRO in the development and launch of small sized satellites8212;an area in which the US industry are leaders at present8212;on ISRO8217;s PSLV, and increase the scope of satellite data exchange, transponder leasing, says ISRO officials.

ISRO and the Indian space industry is being looked at with a fresh sense of enthusiasm by the US due to three key factors, says executive director of Antrix Corporation, K R Sridhara Murthi8212;the commercial rather than strategic outlook read missile technology around which ISRO has been created. According to Madhavan Nair, ISRO is looking at capturing at least 10 per cent of the of the 2 billion satellite launch business in the coming two to three years with a minimum of two-three commercial launches per year against the current sporadic trend. Through strategic tie-ups for satellite launches and transponder services, ISRO is looking at doubling revenue from the current level in two years.

8216;8216;The US has a mature market for space products and services, India has developed the competence to supply systems for the US market and stands a good chance of collaboration with the US through increased commercial co-operation. We have a great opportunity where both sides can benefit,8217;8217; says Murthi. With space technologies being in the realm of dual use, India and the US are in the process of inking a technology safeguards agreement that will prevent commercial technologies from being used for strategic purposes.