SCIENCE

Space

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)

  • Context: With the support of IN-SPACe, the Department of Space (DoS) has approved the establishment of Common Technology Facilities (CTFs) in Gujarat (Koraj) and Tamil Nadu (Thoothukudi).

About IN-SPACe

  • The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre is an autonomous coordinating agency operating under the Department of Space (DoS).
    • Its headquarters is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
    • It is headed by a Chairperson appointed by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
  • It became operational in June 2022.

Key Functions

  • Providing single-window authorization for all space-related activities of Non-Government Entities (NGEs), including private companies, academic institutions, and foreign subsidiaries.
  • Promoting, guiding, and mentoring the private sector through industry-friendly regulations.
  • Establishing safety and technical regulations for launch vehicles, satellites, and ground stations.

Recent IN-SPACe Decisions

  • Granted authorization to Agnikul Cosmos for the Agnibaan SOrTeD launch (2024).
  • Granted authorization to Skyroot Aerospace for the Vikram-S launch (2022).
  • Released the Earth Observation Policy (2023), which governs data dissemination.
  • Released Norms, Guidelines, and Procedures (NGP) for Indian space activities.
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