Indian pvt players can build and operate rocket launch sites

India has decided to allow private companies to establish and operate rocket launch sites within and outside the country subject to prior authorisation from the governmentSimilarly any rocket launch orbital or suborbital from Indian or overseas territory can be carried out only with authorisation from Indian National Space Promotion amp Authorization Center INSPACe an independent body constituted by the Government of India under the Department of Space DOSThe launch could be from own or leased launch site and also from mobile platforms land sea or air as per the Draft National Space Transportation Policy2020 brought out by the Department of SpaceThe Draft National Space Transportation Policy2020 is comprehensive covering all aspects of rocket launching launchpads reentry of a space object and others Srinath Ravichandran cofounder and CEO Agnikul Cosmos told IANSAlso read Chinese rocket debris falls over Indian Ocean near MaldivesThe city based Agnikul Cosmos is developing a small rocket to launch small satellites into orbitPolicy is well made overall Good it allows for launches abroad and building our own launch sites Skyroot Aerospaces CoFounder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana told IANSSkyroot Aerospace is another small rocket makerAs per the draft policy INSPACe authorisation requires the financial guarantee or insurance cover by the proposer as part of its ownership towards fulfilment of nations liability as per international agreementsIn the case of launching from outside the territory of India all approvals necessary for undertaking the scope of activities in another nation or territory shall be under the applicable laws of the concerned nationterritoryThe compliance and approvals of the administration controlling the territory from where the Launch is performed shall be ensured by the proposer and the proof of complianceapprovals shall be enclosed with the application for authorisationThe INSPACe shall authorise the launch by the Indian Entity after verifying the clearances accorded by the Ministry of External Affairs or any other Ministry if applicable and also the approvals obtained by the Entity from the administrationagencies controlling the territory from where the launch is plannedThe draft policy categorically states that INSPACe or the Union of India shall not have any liability related to launches performed outside of the territory of IndiaAccording to the draft policy the authorisation process shall ensure that the sharing of Government owned launch facilities shall not pose any constraint to the timely implementation of approved space programmes for societal development or safeguarding national sovereigntyThe authorisation process shall ensure that there is no violation of non commercial amp space cooperationlinked launch agreements entered into with other countries the draft notesAccording to the Department of Space it is essential to ensure that the independent launch activities undertaken by Indian entities are in accordance with relevant treaties and other international agreements due to the impact of such activities on public safety domestic and global transport and inorbit satellitesTherefore an authorisation mechanism needs to be in place to ensure compliance to the relevant regulations and safety requirementsThe draft policy is comprehensive Covers all aspects of space transportation such as launching launchpads reentry and more It makes it clear that this is a single window system The INSPACe is the nodal agency responsible for overall approval Agnikul Cosmos Ravichandran saidAccording to him the draft policy goes into specifics on what is required under each category for approval This is very helpful as work can get started on how to meet theseHowever it would be great if the government enables the sector with clear guidelines on liability and insurance as these are very important aspects yet very unclear Also timebound approvals are to be implemented for the benefit of the stakeholders Skyroot Aerospace Chandana addedThe draft policy states globally the participation of private agencies in providing launch services has increased and some of these agencies have become significant players in the commercial market for launch servicesIndia is also witnessing the emergence of a New Space wherein the private players in the space sector aim to tap the commercial potential of small satellite launch services by developing small satellite launchers for the global marketThe Indian players who are engaged in the launch vehicle development are also eager to leverage the national facilities already established by the GovernmentThe recent reforms announced by the Government towards unlocking the potential of the space sector in the country are expected to attract entrepreneurs to invest in costeffective amp quick turnaround space transportation systems commensurate with the significant global commercial launch services market the Department of Space saidThis story has been sourced 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