Mission Prarambh
- Recently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched Vikram-S, India’s first rocket built by the private sector, under Mission Prarambh.
- With the launch of Vikram-S (VKS), the Indian private sector entered the space launch market.
- VKS is named after Vikram Sarabhai. It has been developed by a start-up called Skyroot. VKS is a single stage spin-stabilized solid propellant rocket.
- It is among the first few all-composite rockets in the world to have 3D printed solid thrusters for spin stability of the launch vehicle.
- It can carry payloads ranging from 290 to 560 kg into sun-synchronous polar orbits.
Prarambh Mission
- The launch mission aims to carry three payloads to space, including a 2.5 kg payload developed by students from several countries.
- The launch mission and Vikram-S rocket were developed by the Hyderabad-based startup with extensive support from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
Institutional support to promote private sector participation in space
- Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN – SPACe): It has been set up as an autonomous agency. Its objective is to authorise, promote, assist and monitor the private sector.
- New Space India Limited (NSIL): It was established in the year 2019. The organization aims to harness ISRO’s many years of research and development for commercial purposes with the help of Indian industry partners.
About Vikram Sarabhai
- Vikram Sarabhai was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He is credited with the establishment of ISRO. He is also considered the ‘Father of the Indian Space Programme’.
- P.J. Abdul Kalam called him the “Mahatma Gandhi of Indian Science”.
- After the death of Homi Bhabha in 1966, Sarabhai took over as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
- He was instrumental in getting the first Indo-US space venture (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) started to impart education through technology.
Source – The Hindu