‘Unshackling of Space’: Dr Jitendra hails ‘tremendous growth’ in Space StartUps

Hyderabad, Oct 24: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, praised the innovative strides in India’s Space sector during his visit to the state-of-the-art facility of ‘Skyroot Aerospace,’ possibly India’s largest private Rocket factory spanning 60,000 square feet.
Dr Singh hailed the tremendous growth in Space StartUps from a single digit to over 150 within just four years, attributing this achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s transformative reforms in the Space sector.
He emphasised that the success of ‘Skyroot Aerospace,’ led by two IITians, Pawan and Bharat, exemplifies India’s scientific prowess. He noted that the opening of India’s Space Sector for Public Private Partnership (PPP) by Prime Minister Modi had unleashed untapped potential, enabling the emergence of pioneering ventures like ‘Skyroot Aerospace.’
‘Skyroot Aerospace’ made history as the first Space StartUp to launch a private rocket from the ISRO station at Sriharikota after the sector opened to private players three years ago. The company has now established India’s largest Rocket development facility under one roof, showcasing its capability to develop cost-effective rockets on demand.
The union minister unveiled Skyroot’s Vikram-1 orbital rocket, marking a significant milestone in India’s Space sector since its liberalization in 2020. He said such achievements inspire India’s youth, particularly those aspiring to venture into new sectors like Space, BioTech, Agriculture, and Energy.
Reflecting on India’s progress under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, Dr Jitendra highlighted the significant contributions of India’s Space economy, emphasizing its role in the nation’s economic growth as India aspires to become a global leader by 2047.
Dr Singh also discussed the significance of the “Anusandhan National Research Foundation,” which is poised to enhance Public Private Partnership (PPP) models in scientific research. He revealed that the NRF’s budget aims at a spending of Rs. 50,000 crore over five years, with over 70% of the funds expected to come from non-government sources, including industry and philanthropists both domestically and internationally.
The Science and Technology minister affirmed that India’s Space missions are designed to be cost-effective, harnessing the nation’s human resources and skills, and ensuring that India continues to make groundbreaking advancements in Space technology and innovation.