Need To Involve Big Industries, Start-Ups To Boost Space Economy: ISRO Chief

NEW DELHI: Late last month, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its heaviest rocket, Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3), putting in orbit 36 satellites of a UK-based satellite communications company. This was also the first commercial operation of LVM-3. India’s space economy is very, very low (about 2 per cent of the global space economy), says ISRO chairman S. Somnath. Speaking to StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale, he said there’s a need to create an ecosystem where manufacturing (satellites, launch vehicles) improves and this can happen only when the private sector, especially big industries and start-ups, get involved. Tune in for more.