Context

Recently, the Prime Minister launched the Indian Space Association (ISpA) – mooted to be the premier industry association of space and satellite companies.

Analysis

What is it?

• Indian Space Association (ISpA) is an industry body consisting of various stakeholders of the Indian space domain.
• ISpA will be represented by leading domestic and global corporations that have advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies.
• Indian Space Association would help in facilitating the collaboration between private and public players and would lead to India’s space mission growing in an organised way.
• The association will engage with stakeholders across the ecosystem for the formulation of an enabling policy framework that fulfils the Government’s vision.
• ISpA will also work towards building global linkages for the Indian space industry to bring in critical technology and investments into the country to create more high skill jobs.

Stakeholders of ISpA The members of the organisation include government bodies such as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and private telecom companies such as Bharti Airtel’s One Web, Tata Group’s Nelcom, L&T, MapMyIndia, and others.

What does ISpA aspire to achieve?

• ISpA aims to contribute towards the accelerated development of India’s space industry and making the country a leading player in this segment. It aims to contribute to the Government of India’s vision of making India Atmanirbhar and a global leader in the space arena, which is fast emerging as the next growth frontier for mankind.
• The association will engage with stakeholders across the ecosystem for the formulation of an enabling policy framework that fulfils the Government’s vision.
• ISpA will also work towards building global linkages for the Indian space industry to bring in critical technology and investments into the country to create more high skill jobs.  

Why is a dedicated body like ISpA needed?

Though India too has made significant strides in space exploration over time, state-run ISRO has been at the centre and front of this progress. Several private sector companies, however, have shown an interest in India’s space domain, with space-based communication networks coming to the fore. Of late, ISRO’s rockets have been carrying the payload and communication satellites of various countries; now, private players will also look to broach this space with the new organisation.

Significance of ISpA

• Globally, private enterprises like SpaceX are increasingly contributing to unlocking the possibilities of space.
• It will emerge as a forum of the space industry in the Indian private sector and partner the Government of India and other key stakeholders across space industry segments in making the nation self-reliant in the area as well as to become a global service provider.
• ISpA could help develop the capacity to design, build and launch larger satellites for clients all around the world. This would happen more efficiently if there were multiple players competing and pitching in to research this.
• Satellite-based internet services could also take broadband access to remote areas, which are difficult to link through terrestrial networks. This is hugely important for the “Digital India” concept to work evenly across the nation.
• The progress of the space sector can help people in their daily lives, through better imaging, mapping and connectivity facilities.
• Apart from this, farmers can take advantage of forecast technologies in order to better protect the ecology from any impending adversities, while entrepreneurs can harness the space sector to quicken the speed of operations from shipment to deliveries.