HAL wins bid to manufacture small satellite launch vehicles
In a big boost to open up the rapidly-growing space sector to private players, fighter jet maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has won a bid to commercialise the SSLV — the smallest rocket developed by ISRO — with the technology transfer set to take place over the next two years.
The cost-effective vehicle, capable of carrying up to 500 kg payload to low-Earth orbit, can be assembled quickly for commercially launching small and nano satellites, most of which were being sent outside the country for launch by foreign companies so far.
During the technology transfer phase, HAL will have to make at least two SSLVs end-to-end while observing the procedure ISRO followed for the three developmental flights. In August 2027, the company can start manufacturing and offering commercial launches on its own. It will also be allowed to make changes to the design of the launch vehicle as well as suppliers it sources the components from.
During the technology transfer phase, HAL will have to make at least two SSLVs end-to-end while following ISRO's procedure for the three development flights of the vehicle. In August 2027, the company can start manufacturing and offering commercial launches on its own. It will also be allowed to make changes to the design of the launch vehicle as well as suppliers it sources the components from.
There are certain restrictions in place, however, like 51% ownership to remain with an Indian company.
Of the three companies that submitted their commercial bid after a thorough technical evaluation, HAL won with a bid of `511 crore. After the two-year period, HAL will aim for six to 12 launch vehicles a year.
HAL is also part of the consortium that won the bid to privately manufacture India's workhorse rocket PSLV, whose first launch is expected to happen this year.
CMD of NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of the space department, Radhakrishnan Durairaj said, 'This is different from the PSLV model, where we were the buyers. Here, the company will manufacture, launch, and look for its own market. And, there is a lot of potential considering that world over, satellites are being miniaturised and several constellations are coming up.'
He added that it was a two-step selection process and of the 9 companies that applied, 6 were selected in the first stage. Then three of the six companies submitted their techno-commercial bids — Alpha Design Technologies, Bharat Dynamics Ltd, and HAL — which were evaluated by an expert committee headed by former Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijayraghavan.
NSIL will undertake 15 SSLV launches to keep the small satellite market in India as well as bring in demand from other countries. Radhakrishnan said that the first of these 15 launches will happen in the fourth quarter of next year, followed by one launch a month. 'The customers for these missions have already been designated,' he said.
Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, said, 'Before these, we will also have two other launches of SSLV primarily for the Indian private sector's small payloads. IN-SPACe has already sought the interest of the companies through an announcement opportunity. We have fairly high demand. The first of these launches is planned for October this year and the second for February next year.'
He said that the second SSLV flights will also have the SMiLE (SSLV Module in LEO Experiment) — a technology demonstrator platform similar to POEM on PSLV where experiments are placed on the last stage of the rocket. 'While the HAL roll-out will happen after two years, we will complete these launches before that. So, there is no conflict,' said Radhakrishnan.
'We want India to become the global hub for small satellite launches with the three vehicles, a new spaceport for launches of these small vehicles at Kulasekharapatnam, and a launch vehicle manufacturing cluster at Tamil Nadu are geared towards this. Hopefully, global players will find it attractive to come to India for their launches because of the cost, easy scheduling with a choice of three vehicles, and our infrastructure,' said Dr Goenka.
Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme.
Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports.
Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan.
She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times.
When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
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