Mission DefSpace

In News

• Indian Prime Minister recently launched “Mission DefSpace” at DefExpo22.

More about the news

• About:
  • “Mission DocSpace” is launched for developing innovative solutions for the Armed Forces.
  • The Prime Minister also released the fourth defence indigenisation list which bars the import of 101 items after certain timelines.

• Significance of Space diplomacy:
  • Space technology is shaping new definitions of India’s generous space diplomacy, giving rise to new possibilities.
  • There are more than 60 developing countries with whom India is sharing its space science. The South Asia satellite is an effective example of this. 
  • By next year, 10 Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries will also get real-time access to India’s satellite data. 
  • Even developed countries like Europe and America are using our satellite data.
• Fourth defence indigenisation list:
  • As part of efforts to boost the domestic defence industry and promote defence exports, the Defence Ministry promulgated Positive Indigenisation Lists.
  • It lays special focus on equipment/systems, which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next five to 10 years.
    • The Defence Ministry had earlier promulgated the first, second and third Positive Indigenisation Lists, comprising 310 items.
  • The items on the lists cannot be imported by the Services and should be sourced from within the country.

Significance of the Space industry

•  Assessing & recording weather information:
  • Satellites provide more accurate information on weather forecasts. 
  • It can also assess (and record) long-term trends in the climate and habitability of a region. 
    • For example, by monitoring the long-term impact of climate change at regional, territorial, and national scales, governments would be able to devise more pragmatic and combative plans of action for farmers and dependent industries. 
• Real-time tracking:
  • Satellites can serve as real-time monitoring and early-warning solutions against natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, mining etc. 
  • Real-time tracking can also serve multiple purposes in defence.
• Communication and connectivity:
  • As for connectivity, satellite communication can reach more remote areas where conventional networks would require heavy complimenting infrastructure. 
  • Additionally, as to the reliability, the World Economic Forum(WEF) stated that satellite communication can help connect 49% of the world’s unconnected population. 
  • In this light, it must be noted that satellite communications, which are used to facilitate telecommunication services, are among the major categories for investment in the space technology sector. 
  • Other prominent categories include spacecraft and equipment manufacturing.
• Benefits to other sectors:
  • The space avenue is an integration of the aerospace, IT hardware and telecom sectors. 
  • It is thus argued that investment in this arena would foster positive carryover effects to other sectors as well.

Potential of India’s space sector

• Recently, a joint report was prepared by EY and the Indian Space Association (ISpA).
  • Report highlights:
    • Indian space economy:
      • The Indian space economy is set to reach $13 billion by 2025, according to this joint report.
    • Space launch segment:
      • The report also said the space launch segment would grow fastest at a CAGR of 13% spurred by growing private participation, latest technology adoption and low cost of launch services.
    • Satellite services and application segment:
      • This segment would form the largest share of the space economy accounting for 36% of the space economy by 2025, as per the study.
      • On the country’s satellite manufacturing opportunity, it said in 2020 it was $2.1 billion and this would reach $3.2 billion by 2025.
      • Also, by 2025, satellite manufacturing would be the second fastest-growing segment in the Indian space economy. 
    • Space tech start-ups:
      • There are over 100 space tech start-ups in the country and investments in space tech start-ups increased 196% y-o-y in 2021, the survey said.
    • Space parks:
      • Space parks that are coming up across the country would give a fillip to companies operating across the space value chain, especially manufacturing, found the study.

Source: TH