India’s First Private EO Satellite Constellation under PPP Model

In a first of its kind Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Public-private venture, India will launch its own, completely domestic commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation that will be spearheaded by Bengaluru-based PixxelSpace India. This will be a major breakthrough in collaboration of the private sector in the space technology and pursue a stronger data sovereignty and development of strategic capacities.

Key Facts

• Implementation Agency: IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre)
• Lead Partner: PixxelSpace India
• Consortium Partners: Piersight Space, Satsure Analytics India, Dhruva Space
• Investment: 1,200+ crore (private investment) in 5 years
• Scheduled satellites: 12 of high-tech EO satellites
• Applications: Climate change, disaster management, agricultural, marine, and urban planning, national security

Strategic Significance

• Data Sovereignty: Minimizes reliance on external satellite information so that geospatial intelligence can be made safe and free of all dependencies.
• Technological Advancement: Enhances the indigenous skills in readiness of high-resolution images and value-added geospatial services.
• Growth of the Private Sector: Indicates maturity of the India based private space sector with respect to conducting high-technology/ larger scale missions.
• National Security: Aids in increasing surveillance capacity in terms of defence and planning.
• Economic Opportunity: Engages investment and innovation in the space ecosystem of India.

Applications & Benefits

• Climate Change Monitoring: Monitoring changes in the environment as a basis of policy and research.
• Disaster Management: Speedy assessment and relief planning on real time based imagery.
• Agriculture: Monitor the crop health, estimate the crop yield, plan and schedule irrigation.
• Urban Planning: Urban Infrastructure management and intelligent city.
• Marine Surveillance: Keeping track of illegal fishing, maritime borders and port activity.

Impact Policy & Industry

• Space Sector Reforms: In line with the Government policy of opening space technology to the private players.
• Success of PPP Model: Establishes precedent in carrying out large-scale PPP projects in areas of strategic focus.
• Global Competitiveness: India will be in a position to play a competent role in the business of EO satellites.

Conclusion

The inauguration of the initial personalized EO satellite constellation in India is a progressive accession in the Indian space voyage. It promotes independence, enhances national security, and demonstrates the opportunities of the national alliance between the public and private sectors in strategic fields. Such a project not only improves the space economy of India but it also establishes India as a leading geospatial intelligence vehicle of sustainable and secure geospatial intelligence.