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NEW YORK, 4th July (PTI) The New York Times praised India’s ambitious space program, saying the country, now home to about 140 registered space technology start-ups, is “focused on changing Earth’s connection to the ultimate frontier” and could become the “Checks and balances” against China.
“When the first rocket was launched in 1963, India was a poor country chasing the world’s most cutting-edge technology. The nose cone of the projectile was pushed to the launch pad by bicycle, launching a small payload 124 miles above Earth “There is little pretense to keep up with the United States and the Soviet Union. In today’s space race, India has found a firmer foothold,” said the New York Times article.
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The article, “The Surprising Struggles in the World’s Space Enterprise,” noted that India has become home to at least 140 registered space technology start-ups, “including a local research field that will transform how Earth connects to the ultimate frontier.”
“Start-ups have exploded in growth, jumping from five at the start of the pandemic. They see a huge market to serve,” the paper said.
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The New York Times report cited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington last month and a joint statement by the two sides emphasizing India’s “importance as a scientific powerhouse” was taking center stage, the statement said The leaders of the two countries “set out a course to achieve the goal”. New frontiers in all areas of space cooperation. “
In the joint statement, “the two leaders called for enhanced commercial cooperation between the U.S. and Indian private sectors throughout the value chain of the space economy, addressing export control issues and facilitating technology transfer.”
The New York Times report added that the U.S. and India “both see space as an arena where India can counterbalance mutual rival China.”
“One of India’s strengths is geopolitical,” the paper said, adding that Russia and China have historically offered lower-cost launch options.
“But the war in Ukraine has all but ended Russia’s role as a competitor,” the paper said, citing the $230 million damage British satellite startup OneWeb suffered after Russia seized 36 of its spacecraft in September. OneWeb’s next constellation of satellites will be launched into orbit by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
“Similarly, the U.S. government is more likely to approve any U.S. company to send military-grade technology through India than through China,” said The New York Times.
It added: “Since Mr. Modi’s announcement in June 2020 to boost the space sector and open it up to private companies of all kinds, India has launched a network of businesses, each driven by original research and indigenous talent. Last year, these space start-ups Businesses are getting $120 million in new investment, doubling or tripling the rate every year.”
The New York Times report mentioned Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace and aerospace manufacturer Dhruva Space.
“Skyroot and Dhruva are in the relatively sexy space of launches and satellite delivery, but together they account for only 8% of India’s space business.
“A greater share comes from companies that specialize in collecting data from satellite transmissions,” the report said, citing the example of Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel, co-founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, and “partnered with a secretive Pentagon mechanism.”
The New York Times article describes India as a “thriving hub for innovation” and “one of the world’s most competitive launch sites,” and says space tech start-ups are the country’s “most popular source of venture capital investment.” One of the most sought-after industries”. Their growth “exploded, five jumps from the start of the pandemic”.
The New York Times called India’s supplier ecosystem “amazingly large,” saying that years of doing business with ISRO had created “some 400 private companies, spread out in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and elsewhere, each All companies are dedicated to producing special screws, sealants and other products suitable for the Indian market.” For space. “
Pawan Kumar Chandana, 32, co-founder and chief executive of Skyroot Aerospace, estimates the world will need to launch 30,000 satellites this decade.
“We’re more like a taxi,” said Chandana, whose company charges more for smaller payload launches, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX “is more like a bus or trains, they take all passengers to one destination””.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a syndicated news feed, the latest staff may not have modified or edited the body of content)
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