IN-SPACe's Standards Catalogue Aims to Elevate Indian Space Sector

In a significant move towards enhancing the competitiveness of the Indian space industry, the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has unveiled the 'Catalogue of Indian Standards for Space Industry'. This release was announced by Rajeev Jyoti, the director of the technical directorate at IN-SPACe, during the inaugural session of the International Conference on Space 2023, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The Indian Space Policy - 2023 entrusted IN-SPACe with the crucial task of establishing frameworks for developing space industry standards aligned with global benchmarks. This initiative aims to foster a culture of excellence within the Indian space industry and ensure its global competitiveness.

The catalogue comprises a compilation of 15 standards published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). These standards encompass a wide range of domains crucial to space endeavours, including Space System Program Management strategies, Systems Engineering principles, Product Assurance Mechanisms, and more. These standards cover all sectors of space activities, including satellites, launch systems, ground systems, and beyond.

Jyoti emphasised that the release of these standards represents a significant step forward for the Indian space industry. By aligning with internationally accepted best practices, these standards will enable Indian space companies to produce reliable space products, setting the stage for global competitiveness.

In future, IN-SPACe, in collaboration with BIS, plans to expand the catalogue of Indian standards. Subsequent volumes will introduce additional Indian Standards for the space industry across various domains, including the management of space programs, security and safety, space transportation, design and test methodology, production, maintenance, operations, and more.

IN-SPACe, established in June 2020, operates as an autonomous nodal agency under the Department of Space, Government of India. Its mission is to promote, enable, authorise, and supervise non-government entities (NGEs) to engage in space activities. This includes manufacturing launch vehicles and satellites, providing space-based services, establishing ground stations, sharing space infrastructure and facilities, and creating new facilities under the Department of Space.

The release of the 'Catalogue of Indian Standards for Space Industry' underscores India's commitment to advancing its presence in the global space arena, which could potentially touch $100 billion by 2040. It positions Indian space industry stakeholders to achieve new heights in innovation, reliability, and competitiveness on the world stage.