Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has transferred the Indian Mini Satellite-1 (IMS-1) bus technology to Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd in a step towards enhancing private industry participation in the country’s space sector.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, facilitated the technology transfer through an agreement signed.
Alpha Design Technologies Pvt. Ltd is an aerospace and defence company, with expertise in engineering, manufacturing, and system integration. It has been a key player in various projects related to defence, space and homeland security, contributing significantly to India’s technological progress in these domains.
Importance of technology transfer
Technology transfer is the process by which knowledge acquired by an entity while developing a particular technology is transferred to an external entity including the public and private sector, academia, state and central government organisation, etc.
NSIL has been mandated to transfer the technologies developed by Department of Space (DoS)/ ISRO centres/ units so that benefits of the space programme are transferred to Indian industries, thereby contributing towards technological self-reliance, industrial growth and national development.
This transfer marks the beginning of satellite bus technologies developed by ISRO being transferred to private industries.
Further, the PSLV is under productionisation by a consortium of industries.
ISRO has been enabling private players to develop space technologies by facilitating and extending the expertise thus ensuring both out-bound and in-bound approaches.
By transferring the IMS-1 technology to the private sector, ISRO/DoS aims to bolster India's industrial growth in the space sector and foster technological self-reliance.
The development opens up new avenues for private players to contribute to space research and exploration, in line with India’s vision to expand its presence in the global space market.
IMS-1 Bus
The satellite bus, developed by ISRO’s U.R.Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), is a versatile and efficient small satellite platform designed to facilitate low-cost access to space.
The bus serves as a dedicated vehicle for various payloads, enabling Earth imaging, ocean and atmospheric studies, microwave remote sensing, and space science missions while ensuring a quick turnaround time for satellite launches.
The IMS-1 bus, weighing about 100 kg, accommodates a 30 kg payload.
Solar arrays generate 330W power with a raw bus voltage of 30-42 V.
It offers a 3-axis stabilised with four reaction wheels with a 1 Newton thruster that provides +/- 0.1-degree pointing accuracy.
It is a forerunner for IMS-2 bus technology, capable of improved features, and IMS-1 bus is utilised in previous ISRO missions like IMS-1, Youthsat and Microsat-2D.
NewSpace India Limited
The NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a central public sector enterprise (CPSE), under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DOS), was established on March 6, 2019.
NSIL is the commercial arm of ISRO with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high-technology space-related activities.
It was set up to meet the ever-increasing demands of the Indian space programme and to commercially exploit the emerging global space market.
In June 2020, the government enhanced the role and scope of NSIL to encompass more responsibilities in the primary business areas and widen the scope.
The revised mandate broadly covers:
i) Owning satellites for earth observation and communication applications.
ii) Providing space-based earth observation and communication services.
iii) Building satellites and launching them as per demand.
iv) Building launch vehicles through the Indian industry and launching as per requirements.
v) Providing launch services.
iv) Technology transfer to the Indian industry.
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