NEW DELHI: Antrix, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), earned revenue of approximately Rs 230 crore during 2015-16 through commercial launch services, which is about 0.6% of the global launch services market.
The average annual revenue over the last three years according to the published reports available in the public domain on the international satellite market is approximately $200 billion (Rs 13 lakh crore), which includes the launch services market (Rs 0.37 lakh crore), satellite manufacturing (Rs 1.07 lakh crore), ground equipment (Rs.3.85 lakh crore) and satellite services (Rs. 8.17 lakh crore).
Department of Space Minister Jitendra Singh told Parliament recently that ISRO is providing the launch capacity, when available, for launching satellites on a commercial basis through Antrix Corporation Limited.
In order to meet the enhanced national requirements for launching satellites for earth observation, communication & navigation, ISRO is taking steps to increase the launch capacity. ISRO will continue to provide the launch capacity, when available, for commercial launch services. Towards stepping up the launch capacity, ISRO is in the process of exploring the possibility of enhanced involvement of Indian industry. Besides meeting the national demand, the industry can explore the opportunities for commercial launch services.
India joining Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) would benefit India’s space development programme in strengthening international cooperation activities in high technology areas with other space faring nations, he said in reply to another question in Parliament.
This will ease the procurements and supplies of export controlled high/ advanced technology items, components, materials, and equipment from other countries, especially MTCR partner states; and enhance commercial ventures in terms of export of sub-systems, satellites and commercial launch services etc.
India as a major space faring nation and as a partner state in MTCR could play critical roles in various international fora such as UNCOPUOS, UN Conference on Disarmament (CD) and other space related international fora in major policy decisions relating to space applications, space security topics. India, as a Partner State of MTCR, can take part in the decision making process in ensuring non-proliferation of sensitive space technology related items, which are controlled through a list (called Technical Annex) and reviewed & revised annually through Technical Experts Meetings.
