Parliament Question: Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model for Earth Observation Satellite Constellations

Key Highlights:

• The Government has formulated a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework for Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellations through Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe).
• This framework aims to enhance India's space-based observation capabilities and build an indigenous EO ecosystem.
• The first PPP project has been approved with the Allied Orbits Private Limited consortium, led by PixxelSpace India.
• The consortium, also including Dhruva Space, PierSight Space, and Satsure Analytics India, will develop a 12-satellite constellation by 2029.
• This project involves an estimated investment of over ₹1,200 crores, with all satellites to be manufactured domestically and launched on Indian vehicles.

Detailed Insights:

• Non-Government Entities (NGEs) are enabled to design, build, own, and operate EO satellite constellations end-to-end.
• Their roles include satellite manufacturing (optical, multispectral, hyperspectral, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)), launch services, data generation, and downstream applications.
• Financial incentives include the Antariksh Venture Capital Fund of ₹1,000 crores and the Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) of ₹500 crores.
• A Seed Fund Scheme provides grants up to ₹1 crore for start-ups and NGEs in various application areas.
• Other support includes common technical facilities, differential pricing for Indian satellite data, and Transfer of Technology (ToT) from ISRO.
• IN-SPACe functions as the nodal single-window mechanism for all NGE space activities.
• These measures are complemented by the Indian Space Policy-2023, providing the overarching regulatory framework.
• The PPP model strengthens national capabilities in disaster management, agriculture, climate monitoring, urban planning, and border surveillance.
• It aims to build an Aatmanirbhar, data-sovereign EO ecosystem, boosting indigenous manufacturing and the space economy.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Earth Observation (EO): Satellites collecting data about Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems for various applications.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): A radar system that creates high-resolution images of surfaces, independent of weather or daylight conditions.
• Hyperspectral Imaging: Captures images across a continuous spectrum of light, providing detailed information about materials and their composition.
• Multispectral Imaging: Captures images across several discrete spectral bands, offering more information than visible light alone.