Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be launching the Indian Space Association (ISpA) today, an industry body framed to boost the nation’s space-related functioning.
In an official statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, “Echoing the prime minister’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, the ISpA will help in making India self-reliant, technologically advanced and a leading player in the space arena.”
“At 11 AM tomorrow, 11th October, I will join the programme to launch the Indian Space Association. I am glad to be getting the opportunity to interact with leading stakeholders of the sector. Those interested in the world of space and innovation must-watch tomorrow’s programme,” PM Modi announced on 10 October through Twitter.
According to senior ISRO officials, the country’s first solar mission, which was pushed from early 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is likely to be launched in the third quarter of 2022. The agency will also launch Xposat, India’s second space observatory, next year.
The space agency had planned for 20 launches in the financial year 2020-21 before the pandemic struck globally, including the first unmanned flight under the Gaganyaan mission. The Gaganyaan mission is also likely to be undertaken by the end of 2022 or in early 2023.
The ISpA is represented by both local and global corporations heading the space science segment with advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies. Its founding members include Larson & Toubro, Nelco (Tata Group), OneWeb, Bharti Airtel, Mapmyindia, Walchandnagar Industries and Ananth Technology Limited. Other core members include Godrej, Hughes India, Azista-BST Aerospace Private Limited, BEL, Centum Electronics and Maxar India, the release added.
Lt Gen Anil Bhatt (Retd), who previously served as the director general of military operations, has been appointed as the director general of the new body which will work to promote industry interests and business opportunities globally.