Union Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the launch of PSLV-C53 on 30 June 2022 was a dedicated international customer mission that launched 3 Singaporean satellites. Answering a question in the Lok Sabha, Dr Jitendra Singh said the launch also provided an opportunity for Indian space startups to host their technology payloads as part of the PS4 upper stage orbital platform.
PSLV-C53 implemented by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched three Singaporean customer satellites namely DS-EO, NeuSAR and SCOOB-1. PSLV-C53 was the 2nd dedicated commercial mission for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a central public sector undertaking under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DOS), enabling NSIL to earn foreign exchange for providing launch services to international customers. The competitiveness of Indian launch vehicles in the international market continues to grow with each successful launch. ISRO, through its commercial arms, has successfully launched 345 foreign satellites from 34 countries aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The total foreign exchange earnings earned by launching foreign satellites amounts to USD 56 million and approximately EUR 220 million.
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