Science must become priority of space missions, we need more money for it: ISRO chief Somanath

The ISRO Chairman's remarks highlight a critical governance challenge: balancing commercial demands with scientific exploration. The space sector's current reliance on demand-driven commercial launches (like the LVM3 placing OneWeb satellites) reflects a funding model where commercial activities generate revenue. However, this often sidelines pure scientific missions, which are crucial for long-term technological advancement and national prestige but lack immediate financial returns. This underscores the need for a dedicated, robust budget for scientific research, separating it from the pressures of commercial viability. The governance framework must ensure that national priorities in science are not compromised by short-term commercial goals, requiring policymakers to rethink funding mechanisms for pure research.

The impending space policy aims to transform the economic landscape of India's space sector by encouraging the entry of non-governmental entities (NGEs). This shift is crucial because India currently lacks a robust private industry capable of independent space launches or satellite manufacturing, unlike the ecosystem supporting NASA in the US. By bringing in private players, the government hopes to create a competitive market, attract investment, and foster innovation. New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, plays a pivotal role in this transition by transferring technology and facilitating commercial activities. The economic goal is to build a self-sustaining space economy where private industry handles routine commercial operations, freeing ISRO to focus on advanced scientific research and strategic missions.

The disparity between the number of commercial satellites (53) and scientific missions (4) highlights a significant gap in India's space exploration strategy. Scientific missions like Chandrayaan-3 (lunar exploration) or the Aditya-L1 mission (solar observation) are essential for fundamental scientific discovery, understanding the universe, and developing cutting-edge technologies. These missions often drive innovation that eventually spills over into commercial applications. Prioritizing science requires not only increased funding but also a strategic shift in ISRO's mandate. As the private sector takes over commercial launches under the new space policy, ISRO can transition from being a primary service provider to a mentor and a hub for advanced research, similar to the evolution seen in other major space agencies.