Pradeep's Space Newsletter #33
Long post - Initial Thoughts on the Budget 2022-23, updates from ISRO, other space updates and tweets!
The last two issues of the newsletter were not posted as I was down with COVID-19. I decided to skip instead of posting anything sub-par to this newsletter.
Initial Thoughts on the Budget 2022-23 for DoS
Last year, as part of my work with Takshashila, we had submitted comments to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology based on this document in 2021. I am hoping to do something similar with this post.
There are two documents that I am referring to while writing this.
Notes on Demands for Grants 2022-23: This is how Department of Space asks the Government of India for money for the various work it needs to do for the financial year.
Outcome Budget 2022-23: This is what the Department of Space is saying it will do with the money given in the budget.
The Department of Space (DoS) hopes to fly 2 Gaganyaan test vehicle launches, 5 launches of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), 2 launches of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV, these are what were earlier called the GSLV Mk-II) and 2 launches of the new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). These are for the period between March 2022 to April 2023. In all, these are 11 launches for the financial year.
The expectation is that these are flights for Chandrayaan-III on the GSLV Mk-III, IDRSS-1 and IRNSS-1J on the GSLV, EOS-6/OceanSat-3, TDS-01 and Aditya-L1 for the PSLV, EOS-2/MicroSat-2A and Global-5,6,7 and 8 on the SSLV. Two satellites of the five on the PSLV that are to fly in 2022-23 is unknown, as of now.
Many of these missions were to be launched much earlier. Most have been delayed. There is also a backlog of satellites to be launched. The way we use our Launch Pads means it would be difficult to switch between these various launch vehicles. DoS hopes to generate a revenue of INR 219.14 crores by providing commercial launch services.
For these, the DoS has asked about 1,500 crores more than the Revised Budget last year.
There are a number of space companies setting up to build space sub-systems in India. In their programmes, ISRO had suggested that we need more space applications companies. But, the outcome figures from ISRO are not encouraging. They target to earn a revenue of INR 11 crores from data products. For this, they hope to host about 5 lakh data and value-added products and target 28,000 unique users. For this, they have asked for an amount that is INR 100 crores more than the Revised Budget last year.
There are request for money under the head of Space Sciences. This includes some ambitious missions like Chandrayaan-III, Aditya-L1 etc but also includes some of the research that is sponsored by DoS. This request is actually a INR 5 crore decrease from the Revised Budget last year.
The Government of India wants ISRO to work on research projects and let NSIL and the non-Governmental private entities take care of the operational burden of ISRO. If it is to do this, I think an increase of the Space Science research budget is the way forward.
I am happy that DoS has asked for more money this year for PRL, but the quantum of increase is only INR 40 crores. This, while ISRO is involved in projects like quantum communication. It is also the cradle of the Indian Space Programme. If you want more research from ISRO, I think the DoS must ask for more.
INSAT is another confusing head. We are not sure how much money is being spent in acquiring new orbital slots, having satellites in the orbital slots etc. The GSLV and the GSLV Mk III are being used for other (ergo, important) missions like the lunar mission, navigational satellite launches and data relay satellite launches whereas we are dependent on Ariane V for the launch of our own communication satellite. With our shift to demand driven production of satellites, I wonder if this will further slow down the speed with which we build our GSLV fleet. We also have to contend with the loss of a GSLV in 2021.
NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) has been slow in productionisation of the PSLV. It also needs to step on productionisation the GSLV and the GSLV Mk-III. It’s budget outlay has also been reduced this year after it’s capitalization last year. It was given INR 44 crores more than what it had asked for last year. I wonder why the budget support has been removed while it tries to take on the operational work load of ISRO.
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has asked for INR 33 crores which seems like a good first step. This year, DoS seems focused on building out the space-sector regulator.
Updates from the ISRO website:
DoS has suddenly become very active since the new Chairman took over. I hope information flow continues.
Qualification testing of VIKAS Engine for Gaganyaan Programme
Announcement of Opportunity (AO) soliciting proposals for 12th AO cycle observations of Astrosat
Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair took over as Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center. This is in additional charge to Director, Human Spaceflight Center.
NewSpace India Ltd. published it’s annual report.
The general trend has been that Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) is generally the next Chairman, ISRO. Hence, the importance of this appointment.
Other Reads
Funding into space tech start-ups grew 198 per cent y-o-y in 2021
r/ISRO compilation of the recently concluded 21st National Space Science Symposium.
Tweets
Do give me feedback on if you would like me to continue with a separate section for tweets.
Dibyendu Nandi, who established CESSI replies:
I agree with @1amnerd in the science vs technology lens. An important distinction.
