ISRO through its commercial arms has successfully launched 177 foreign satellites belonging to 19 countries during the last five years, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said on Friday.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, he said that from January 2018 to November 2022, ISRO has successfully launched 177 foreign satellites belonging to countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA, on-board PSLV and GSLV-MkIII launchers under a commercial agreement.

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Dr Singh informed that forex generated through the launching of these 177 foreign satellites from January 2018 to November 2022 was about 94 million dollars and 46 million euros.

On the subject of space reforms, the Minister said far-reaching reforms in the sector were announced in June 2020, with an intent to enhance participation of Non-Government Entities (NGEs) in the sector and bring in a commerce-oriented approach to space activities – all steps towards enhancing the nation’s share in the global space economy.

The result of these reforms was reflected with the heaviest commercial launch by India in the form of LVM3, carrying 36 OneWeb satellites, and the recent suborbital launch by an Indian Private entity – Skyroot Aerospace – which was the first such instance.

Moreover, the creation of IN-SPACe as a single-window agency for the promotion and handholding of non-government entities in conducting end-to-end space activities has resulted in a remarkable interest in the start-up community, with 111 space-startups registered, as of date, in the IN-SPACe digital platform.

Over the last five years, the government has taken several steps to strengthen the space programme and take it to greater heights. Significant progress has been made in the development and realisation of space systems catering to earth observation, satellite communication and space science.

 Multiple successful flights of operational launch vehicles, along with the development, realisation and testing of major technology elements of future launch vehicles, were seen during this period.