IN-SPACe Launches SBaaS, Turning Satellite Ambitions into Ready-to-Fly Reality

Image Source: ET Tech

Today, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), which serves as ISRO's commercial arm, announced the company's Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS) program. The SBaaS initiative will help to pave the way for enhanced access to satellite development for the private sector. Indian Non-Government, Non-Commercial Entities (NGEs) will now have access to modular, flight-ready small satellite bus systems for hosted payloads.

The initiative is planned to be conducted in two phases. In Phase I, and based on a review of technical capabilities, up to four Indian NGEs will be shortlisted to design and develop modular, multi-mission satellite bus systems. Phase II would see IN-SPACe support up to two hosted payload missions that would demonstrate the usability of such systems in orbit.

Ultimately, the initiative strives to advance innovation pipelines, reduce time to orbit for payload developers, and position India as a global small satellite bus and hosted payload capability provider. The SBaaS initiative proposes to offer standardized and economically viable satellite bus platforms which effectively implements connections between payload developers and satellite bus platforms to enable in-orbit validation of new technologies.

"In essence," stated Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, "it is a landmark moment in democratizing access to India’s space sector," explained Dr. Goenka while stressing the SBaaS program's potential for helping to enhance innovation and reduce dependence on imports. Dr. Rajeev Jyoti (Director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACe) elaborated on these potentialities in stating that the SBaaS program would expedite the development cycle for new technologies, while enhancing India’s capacity to deliver cradle-to-grave space solutions.

NGEs must continue to check eligibility criteria, the detailed Announcement of Opportunity document, and apply using the IN-Space Digital Platform.

Source: The Economic Times