ISRO Generates $439 Million from Foreign Satellite Launches in 10 Years
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) earned $439 million as revenue from international satellite launches during the last 10 years, stated Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology.
In a letter to the Lok Sabha, Singh reported that between January 2015 and December 2024, ISRO launched 393 foreign satellites and three Indian customer satellites on its PSLV, LVM3, and SSLV launch vehicles. The foreign exchange earnings made during this period comprise close to $143 million and 272 million euros, which amounts to about $296 million at prevailing exchange rates.
India has flown satellites for 34 nations so far since 2014, with the greatest number from America (232), followed by Britain (83), Singapore (19), Canada (8), South Korea (5), Luxembourg (4), Italy (4), Germany (3), and various others like Australia, the UAE, and Japan.
Singh underscored ISRO's international outreach, pointing out that the organization has entered into space cooperation agreements with 61 nations and five multilateral agencies. The agreements cover important domains like satellite remote sensing, navigation, communication, space science, planetary exploration, and capacity building.
ISRO's highlighted global missions are the 'NISAR' mission with NASA, a synthetic aperture radar satellite in advanced development stages, and the 'TRISHNA' mission with CNES, targeting high-resolution natural resource mapping. Furthermore, ISRO has carried out a feasibility study with JAXA for a collaborative lunar polar exploration mission.
The minister has also stated that the budgetary support for Gaganyaan Programme, which is India's human space programme, has been raised to Rs 20,193 crore. The new vision of the program involves new research and development areas for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, precursor mission, and some more technological inputs.
Gaganyaan now targets eight missions two crewed and six uncrewed by 2028, up from the initial one crewed and two uncrewed missions plan. This ambitious project is anticipated to solidify India's standing in human space exploration.
With consistent commercial achievement and strategic foreign collaborations, ISRO continues to consolidate its role as a global space leader, pushing innovation and helping the nation's scientific and economic development.
