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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PM Modi congratulates Indian team on winning T20 WC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Indian Cricket Team for winning the trophy without losing any matches in the tournament.
In a video released on his official social media handles, Modi said "Indian cricket team won World Cup and also hearts of crores of Indians; no small achievement that it did not lose a single match."
CHAMPIONS!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 29, 2024
Our team brings the T20 World Cup home in STYLE!
We are proud of the Indian Cricket Team.
This match was HISTORIC. 🇮🇳 🏏 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HhaKGwwEDt
