ISRO arm NSIL signs $18-million deal with Australian government for commercial satellite launch
New Delhi: The Australian government has signed an $18-million memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Announced by Australian High Commissioner Philip Green, the partnership will see Australian firm Space Machines launch a satellite inspection and observation payload aboard ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in 2026. This payload will be the largest Australian satellite launched to date, according to Rajat Kulshrestha, co-founder of Space Machines.
Australian High Commissioner Philip Green emphasized that this partnership marks a significant step in Australia's space engagement with India. The collaboration will enable Australian satellites to be launched from Indian soil, elevating the bilateral space cooperation to new heights.
S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, outlined an ambitious vision for the future, aiming for 20-30 SSLV launches annually to meet the growing demand for small satellite launch services. He also highlighted the broader goal of increasing capacity and capability in India's space missions, including the ambition to land an Indian astronaut on the moon by 2040.
The partnership will involve several stakeholders in India's private space economy, including domestic space-engineering firm Ananth Technologies, which has previously supplied components and engineering services to ISRO. The privatisation of SSLV is ongoing, with six bidders identified, and the final decision pending.
This collaboration comes at a time when India's commercial space activities face a downturn due to a lack of internal demand. Despite this, India’s private space sector has attracted $370 million in investments to date, with Skyroot Aerospace leading with $95 million. The deal with Australia is one of India's first significant cross-border investments in the space sector since its privatisation in 2020.
ISRO and the Australian government announced plans for joint space conferences in November to further enhance collaboration between the two space economies.
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KSRTC introduces gender ticketing in buses across Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The KSRCTC on Saturday began implementing gender ticketing in buses operating across the state.
According to a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) circular issued on Friday, the gender ticketing system is intended to record whether a passenger is a woman, a man or a child in tickets issued on KSRTC buses from Saturday.
To facilitate the system, Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) have been updated.
The circular stated that conductors in all KSRTC depots should record the gender category of passengers while issuing tickets through the ETMs.
Options for women, men, and children have been included in the ETMs to identify passenger categories when issuing tickets.
The printed tickets generated by the ETMs will also indicate the passenger's category, officials said.
The UDF had promised free KSRTC travel for women across the state during the Assembly election campaign.
UDF, which won 102 of 140 seats, would soon form the government after the Congress party finalises the discussion on the next Chief Minister.
The introduction of gender ticketing is being viewed as an effort to estimate the number of women travelling daily on KSRTC buses before implementing the poll promise.
Some conductors have reportedly raised concerns over the additional time required to record passenger details, especially during rush hours.
