The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has announced a new opportunity for Indian Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) under the Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS) initiative. The SBaaS aims to provide a pathway for Indian private space players to design and develop small satellite bus platforms for hosted payload applications.
As part of this initiative, IN-SPACe will support the realisation of satellite bus platforms through a two-phase approach. In Phase I, up to four Indian NGEs will be shortlisted based on their technical capabilities to develop a modular, multi-mission satellite bus system. In Phase II, IN-SPACe will support up to two hosted payload missions to demonstrate the utility of these platforms.
Through this Announcement of Opportunity (AO), IN-SPACe invites applications from eligible Indian NGEs to undertake the design, development, and realisation of small satellite bus systems capable of supporting multiple payloads. The effort is aimed at easing access to flight platforms, reducing time to orbit, and enabling in-orbit demonstration for payload developers.
Commenting on the AO, Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe, said, “The Satellite Bus as a Service initiative is a pivotal step in democratizing access for India’s Space Sector. By enabling NGE’s with this opportunity we are aiming to push innovation, and reduce our reliance on imports. Together we are looking at making India a global service provider of small satellite bus and hosted payload services.
Dr. Rajeev Jyoti, Director, Technical Directorate at IN-SPACe, added, “SBaaS is designed to bridge the gap between payload developers and satellite platforms. By providing a standardized, modular bus platform, we offer a cost-effective solution for in-orbit validation of diverse payloads. This initiative will accelerate the development cycle for emerging technologies and enhance India’s capabilities in delivering end-to-end space solutions.”
The detailed Announcement of Opportunity (AO) document is available on the IN-SPACe Digital Platform (www.inspace.gov.in). Eligible NGEs may register on the platform to access the application process and submit their proposals in the prescribed format.
