GS 3 – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY – SPACE
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) announced the successful deployment of 10 hosted payloads by Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) on the POEM-4 module during ISRO’s PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission. This achievement highlights a growing private sector role in India’s space exploration.
What is POEM-4?
POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) is an innovative use of the spent PS4 stage of the PSLV rocket, repurposed to conduct scientific and technological experiments.
- Mission Details:
- The PSLV-C60 rocket launched the POEM-4 module, which conducted in-orbit experiments at an altitude of 350 km with a 55-degree inclination.
- POEM-4 serves as a platform for hosted payloads, enabling a cost-effective way to carry out experiments in space.
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
- Chaired by experts in space activities, safety, law, strategy, and members from academia, industry, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
- Headquarters: Bopal, Ahmedabad.
Role and Objectives:
- Boosting Private Participation:
- IN-SPACe fosters private sector engagement in space activities to strengthen India’s space economy.
- It supports the development of launch vehicles, satellites, and space-based services by NGEs.
- Infrastructure Sharing:
- Facilitates private access to space infrastructure managed by ISRO/Department of Space (DOS), reducing barriers to entry and encouraging collaboration.
- Authorization and Supervision:
- Promotes, authorizes, and supervises space activities by NGEs, ensuring adherence to safety standards.
- Assesses the feasibility of establishing new space facilities by private players.
- Innovation and Collaboration:
- Aims to enhance India’s global position in space technology by enabling innovation and resource optimization.
- Acts as an intermediary between ISRO and NGEs to streamline utilization of India’s space resources.