In-Space seeks bids from domestic firms

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-Space), a government-affiliated space projects and incubation body, on Thursday sought expressions of interest (EoI) from domestic firms to design, build, own, operate and maintain earth observation satellites.

The project marks one of the first moves by the Centre to become a key customer for the private space sector.

On 28 June, Mint reported the Centre will offer funding and ancillary support to launch 12 earth observation (EO) satellites in a public-private partnership.

Interested private space entities can apply for the project, which may include multiple EO satellites, subject to meeting funding, valuation or revenue criteria.

To qualify, space firms must have raised at least ₹85 crore ($10.1 million) in funding— reduced to ₹42.5 crore ($5.1 million) for startups. Alternatively, applying entities must be valued at ₹850 crore ($101 million), or have an average annual revenue of ₹200 crore ($23.9 million) over a period of three years.

Applicants can register and send queries on the project to In-Space by 1 August, and a ‘pre-EoI conference’ will be held on 8 August. Startups and other firms will be allowed to submit their applications for the project by 10 September.

In-Space’s project description for the tender states that the satellite will seek to “reduce foreign dependency for space-based EO data, and increase the space economy of our country.” EO satellites have so far been typically designed and launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).