IN-SPACe Seeks Bids From Indian Startups To Build Earth Observation System

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has invited proposals from Indian startups and private companies to build and manage a space-based earth observation (EO) system.

To be undertaken under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the project will involve designing, building and launching a constellation of satellites that will be equipped with advanced imaging technologies.

“This is an initiative by IN-SPACe and ISRO towards creating a self-reliant, robust, and sustainable Earth Observation System catering to the growing demand for EO data. It is envisaged that the upstream infrastructure of the satellite constellation with advanced imaging technology will create significant downstream commercial potential, resulting in more competitive products,” said IN-SPACe chairman Pawan Goenka.

Interested applicants can register with the nodal space body for the project by August 1. Thereafter, a “pre-EoI (expression of interest) conference” will be held with interested parties on August 8, followed by submission of applications for the project by September 10.

The applicants will be judged based on multiple parameters by the IN-SPACe including funding, valuation and revenue. To qualify for the project, the applicants should have raised at least INR 85 Cr in funding. Meanwhile, the threshold has been kept at half – INR 42.5 Cr – for Indian startups. 

Alternatively, interested entities must either be valued at INR 850 Cr or have an average annual revenue of INR 200 Cr during a three-year period.

The EoI has invited proposals from entities to design and build a constellation of satellites that are equipped with achromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave imaging. 

It will also involve applicants launching the satellites through Indian Satellite Launch Vehicles, monitoring and controlling the spacecraft health, and payload data download by establishing and operating their own ground stations or through ground stations as a service (GSaaS) providers. 

The EoI also includes projects for processing the payload data downloaded from the satellite constellation and generating analysis ready data (ARD) for various applications.

As per the EoI, the proposed earth observation satellite will seek to “reduce foreign dependency for space-based EO data, and increase the space economy of our country”. For context, these satellites are generally used by government bodies for purposes such as weather monitoring and land surveys.

Additionally, the document also said that the selected applicants will “have the opportunity to monetise space data and related services, thereby increasing (their) presence in the global geospatial market—and positioning India as a major global data provider”.

At present, startups such as GalaxEye and Pixxel operate in the domain and offer multi-sensor imaging and hyperspectral imaging satellites respectively. 

The development comes a month after reports surfaced that the Centre was planning to offer funding and ancillary support to launch 12 earth observation satellites in a public-private partnership model. 

This also comes amid broader push from the Centre for the spacetech sector. Just days ago, Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman, in her Budget speech, announced an INR 1,000 Cr venture capital (VC) fund for homegrown spacetech startups.