ISRO Partners with Private Sector for Full-Scale Rocket Production

In a significant shift, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced plans to enlist private companies for the complete manufacturing of rockets, with ISRO providing technology support. Traditionally, only parts of the rockets were manufactured privately and assembled at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) for safety tests.

Private companies are invited for a 14-year contract to build the LVM 3 rocket, with the first two years dedicated to technology transfer and manufacturing training. Subsequently, these companies will continue building rockets for the remaining 12 years. The LVM 3 rocket, ISRO’s most powerful, has been crucial for missions like Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3, capable of launching payloads of up to 4000 kg in geostationary orbit and 8000 kg in low Earth orbit.

ISRO is transitioning to the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) for future projects, including the construction of the Indian space station and lunar missions. While SpaceX’s Falcon 9 remains a dominant commercial launch vehicle, other major players like China, Russia, Europe, and Japan are also advancing their rocket technologies.