Lok Sabha Question No. 918 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Strengthening National Space Infrastructure
Ministry: SPACE
Asked by: Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathva, Shri Ramesh Awasthi, Shri Shashank Mani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF SPACE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 918

TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2026

STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE

## 918. SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA:

MS. KANGNA RANAUT:

SHRI RAMESH AWASTHI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of progress made in strengthening national launch and space infrastructure during 2025 including establishment of  new  launch  pads  and  facilities  supporting  next-generation launch vehicles;
- (b) the advancements achieved in indigenization or critical space technologies  such  as  propulsion  systems,  microprocessors and electric propulsion;
- (c) the  details  of  the  role  of  academia,  start-ups  and  private industry in  supporting  ISRO  missions  through  technology transfer and incubation mechanism; and
- (d) the details of the impact of recent international collaborations and  leadership  roles  undertaken  by  India  in  global  space exploration and disaster management initiatives?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

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- (a) Progress  made  in  strengthening  national  launch  and  space infrastructure during 2025:
-  The SPADEX mission successfully demonstrated autonomous docking and undocking, along  with  power transfer  between  satellites-a  major  step  towards  inorbit  servicing  capabilities  and  docking  operations  on space stations. This was further complemented by the successful  circumnavigation  of  the  SPADEX  satellites. This achievement  made  India  the  fourth nation to demonstrate docking in space.
-  The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-04), which was also part of the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission, flew with multiple payloads from ISRO, space startups & academia, fostering innovation through in-orbit experimentation.  The  POEM-4  completed  more  than 1000 orbits and was a highly successful POEM mission. The  mission  also  demonstrated  a  robotic  arm  in-orbit and the germination of seeds in microgravity.
-  The GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission in January 2025 was the 100th  mission  to  lift-off  from  Sriharikota.  The  launch vehicle performed excellently by precisely injecting the satellite to its intended orbit.
-  The GSLV-F16/NISAR mission scored yet another first by becoming the first joint ISRO-NASA  mission. It is significant that the one of the most expensive payloads in  the  earth  observation  segment  with  12m  unfurlable antenna from NASA  was integrated on an Indian satellite bus and launched on an Indian launch vehicle. NISAR, the first dual frequency SAR satellite, along with NASA's  L-band  SAR  payload  &  ISRO's  S-band  SAR payload is now fully operational.
-  The LVM3-M5  / CMS-03  mission is another unique mission  where  ISRO  achieved  the  milestone  of  the heaviest GTO satellite from the Indian soil.
-  The  LVM3-M6  /  BlueBird  Block-2  set  the  record  of  the launch  of  heaviest  ever  satellite  from  Indian  soil.  This mission also validated the electro-mechanical actuation for  the  S200  motor  along  with  composite  thrust  frame for  C25  stage  and  other  modifications  to  improve  the payload performance by 176 kg. We can confidently say that the S200 EMA is globally the most powerful space qualified  electric  actuation  system  compared  to  the other launchers that use EMA for solid motors.
-  The  Department  obtained  financial  approval  from  the Government for the establishment of  the  Third  Launch Pad  at  Sriharikota  as  part  of  the  essential  launch infrastructure required for Next Generation Launch Vehicles.  A  dedicated  launch  site  is  being  established for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu for which the
- construction activities for the launch pad facilities and integration building have commenced.
-  A 10t vertical mixer for solid propellant production was commissioned at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh along with the  second  process  line  at  the  Ammonium  Perchlorate Plant, Alwaye, Kerala to enhance  the solid motor production capacity. A Cryogenic Turbopump Test facility  has  also  been  commissioned  to  enhance  the throughput  for  the  testing  &  acceptance  of  cryogenic engine subsystems. Integrated Titanium alloy  Tank Production facility, which is a unique end-to-end facility for  realizing  spacecraft  propellant  tanks  &  PSLV  upper stage tanks was also commissioned in 2025 at Tumakuru, Karnataka.
- (b) ISRO  completed  the  development  and  qualification  of  a  high thrust  electric  propulsion  system  of  300mN  thrust  rating  to power  spacecraft  propulsion  systems,  which  is  envisaged  to be  demonstrated  in  a  Technology  Demonstration  Satellite. ISRO  demonstrated  the  re-ignition  of  thrust  chamber  in  the LVM3-M5 mission in November 2025 paving the way for restart of  cryogenic  stage  in  future  LVM3  flights  thereby  enabling mission  flexibility.  Further,  ISRO  successfully  demonstrated boot-strap  mode  starting  of  a  gas-generator  cycle  cryogenic engine without any auxiliary start-up system through a ground test  in  November  2025.  ISRO  is  working  on  reusable  space transportation technologies and technology demonstration flights  are  planned  to  demonstrate  stage  recovery.  Towards

this,  ground  tests  to  demonstrate  throttling  of  Vikas  engine were also conducted successfully.

ISRO  has  designed  &  developed  32-bit  indigenous  processor (VIKRAM3201)  jointly  with  Semiconductor  Laboratory  (SCL), Chandigarh, which is the first 32-bit processor in the country qualified for space applications. The 16-bit version, VIRKAM1601, which was realized earlier by ISRO, has already been  inducted  in  the  avionics  systems  of  all  the  launch vehicles  of  ISRO.  ISRO  has  also  realized  another  indigenous microprocessor,  KALPANA32  jointly  with  SCL,  which  is  a processor  based  on  the  SPARC  architecture.  In  the  field  of microprocessors, indigenisation efforts include On Board Controller, payload controllers, data acquisition and beamforming unit.

- (c) ISRO supports academia through its Space Technology Incubation  Centres  (STICs)  programme,  which  promotes  and nurtures young innovators by helping them convert their ideas into space-worthy components for the Indian Space Programme.

ISRO  has  transferred  Small  Satellite  Launch  Vehicle  (SSLV) technology  to  M/s  Hindustan  Aeronautics  Limited  (HAL)  and has also transferred technologies such as Lithium-Ion Battery, Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) Bus, Distress Alert System, and various sensors to private industries  to  facilitate  further productionization  and  the  growth  of  the  space  ecosystem  in the country.

Many Indian Industries are involved in ISRO's effort to realise SSLV through industry. Several Indian industries/ start-ups are involved  in  building  micro-earth  observation  satellites  and related ground segment infrastructure. 3 industries are involved in manufacturing about 1 lakh 2-way MSS terminal to be fitted in fisherman's boat, etc. Further, M/s. NewSpace India Limited through ISRO and IN-SPACe has signed 100 Technology Transfer Agreements till date to transfer technologies developed at ISRO to Private Industries/ Start-ups to promote the space ecosystem in the country.

- (d) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) continue to pursue successful  space  cooperation  with  space  faring  and  space aspiring nations. Some of the recent impacts of international space cooperation are given here:
-  In the year 2025, 10 cooperative documents were signed with international partners for: setting up of  NavIC reference station in South Africa; travel of Indian astronaut to international space station; pursuing human space  flight  cooperation  with  European  space  agency; establishing temporary ground station in Australia; continuous  operation  of  ground  station  in  Mauritius; working for a joint lunar mission with Japan; accommodating a Swedish instrument onboard upcoming Venus  Orbiter  Mission  and  initiating  cooperation  with new  space  entities  of  Saudi  Arabia,  Philippines,  and Republic of Korea.
-  NISAR  satellite,  jointly  built  by  ISRO  and  NASA  was launched by ISRO's launch vehicle in July 2025.
-  ISRO has installed a NavIC timing receiver at the Italian National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM).
-  Indian  officials  hold  leadership  roles  in  two  working groups under the Scientific and Technical Sub Committee of UNCOPUOS.

ISRO's  active  involvement  in  international  disaster  management initiatives such as International Charter Space and Major Disasters and Sentinel Asia helped India to receive more than 2,260 satellite datasets during the last three years, for generating timely inputs for management of major disasters that affected the country during this period.

ISRO also provided more than 725 IRS satellite datasets for global disaster management initiatives, reinforcing India's commitment to respond to global humanitarian causes.

ISRO successfully conducted the lead role of International Charter Space and Major Disasters for six months in 2025. During the lead role  period,  it  coordinated  39  activations  of  the  Charter  for  rapid information  dissemination,  on-boarded  four  new  authorized  users; ensuring wider reach of space-based services for developing nations,  and  effectively  coordinated  smooth  functioning  of  the Charter.  It  also  on-boarded  GHGSat  (Green  House  Gas  emission measuring Satellite) as new data source and improved the visualisation of the Charter's portal.

ISRO  is  also  Co-chairing  the  Sentinel  Asia  steering  committee, providing strategic guidance on use of space technology for disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2026, India will be hosting the  annual  meetings  of  (i)  International  Committee  on  Global Navigation  Satellite  System  (ICG);  (ii)  BRICS  Heads  of  Space Agencies; and (iii) International Planetary Data Alliance.

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