Isro launched 177 foreign satellites for 19 countries | India News

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday said that Isro, through its commercial arms, has successfully launched 177 foreign satellites belonging to 19 countries in the last five years and forex generated from providing these launch services is approximately $94 million and 46 million Euro.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, space minister Jitendra Singh said that from January 2018 to November 2022, Isro has successfully launched 177 foreign satellites belonging to countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, UK and the US, on board PSLV and GSLV-MkIII launchers under commercial agreements.
On space reforms, the minister said far-reaching reforms in the sector were announced in June 2020 with an intent to enhance participation of non-government entities in the sector and bring in a commerce-oriented approach to space activities — all steps towards enhancing the nation’s share in the global space economy.
The result of these reforms was reflected with the heaviest commercial launch by India in the form of LVM3, carrying 36 Oneweb satellites and the recent suborbital launch by an Indian private entity Skyroot Aerospace, which was the first such instance.
Moreover, the creation of IN-SPACe as a single-window agency for the promotion and handholding of NGEs in conducting end-to-end space activities has resulted in a remarkable interest in the startup community, with 111 space startups registered as on date on the IN-SPACe digital platform. Over the last five years, the government has taken several steps to strengthen the space programme and take it to greater heights.
Significant progress has been made in the development and realization of space systems catering to earth observation, satellite communication and space science. Multiple successful flights of operational launch vehicles, along with development, realization and testing of major technology elements of future launch vehicles, was seen during this period.