ISRO authorities seek to clarify role of privatization, launch vehicles, future roles and more in private space push: Report | Today’s news

For the first time since the Indian government opened up the space sector to private industry, nine employee bodies that represent employees at ISRO centers have formally expressed concerns about the direction and basis of the transition. In a joint representation dated September 4, the authorities request a written explanation from the chairman of the space commission in the given matter.

ISRO Staff Representation to the Chairman: Report

“Private participation in defined commercial activities can co-exist with a strong, publicly owned ISRO. What cannot be accepted without debate is a policy that reduces ISRO to a residual research and development boutique, while the implementation of the nation’s launch vehicles and the operation of their launch infrastructure is taken out of public hands,” the representation said, as quoted in a Times of India report.

Staff bodies have identified the technology developed by ISRO as a national asset. It said the transfer of the organization must be transparent and accountable.

“…Serving employees have a well-deserved right to be informed, consulted and protected. Natural justice and good governance require that a policy of this magnitude be explained to the workforce by the ministry itself,” the representation said.

The joint representation was reportedly signed by ISRO Employees Association, SHAR Employees Association, ISAC Employees Association, ISRO-LPSC Employees Association, ISRO-BBU Employees Association, NRSA Employees Union, Space Employees Association-BBU, ISRO-IPRC Employees Association and SAC Employees Association.

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What are the requirements?

The authorities referred to a statement allegedly made by IN-SPAC chairman Pawan Goenka about ISRO that it “does not manufacture any launch vehicles” after all, and sought clarification on whether his remark “represents an approved decision by the Government of India, the Space Commission or the DoS”. If so, the authorities are also looking into other details regarding his approval, powers and more.

Staff through the authorities also sought clarification on ISRO’s future role, asking: “What will be ISRO’s future mandated role – specifically, whether the design, development, implementation, integration, testing and launch of PSLV, LVM-3, SSLV and successor vehicles will continue as an ISRO function or be terminated. Whether any decision has been taken to exclude PSUs from the proposed PSLV/LVM-3 production transfer and exclude these units.”

Further written details are also sought on the institutional framework under which publicly developed technologies, test facilities, launch complexes and know-how built with taxpayer funds and the labor of generations of ISRO employees are being opened up to private operators.

“ISRO built with public funds, public purpose and public manpower”

In addition, clarification of the respective roles of NSIL and IN-SPACe in such transmissions was also requested.

“ISRO was built as a national science institution with public funds, public purpose and public manpower. Design, implementation, integration, testing and launch operations are not just ‘contract manufacturing’. They are the core competence, institutional memory and strategic capabilities of the organization,” the representation states.

Read also | ISRO achieved its first major success this year with the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission

An employee representative said they fear that ISRO’s gradual withdrawal from launching launch vehicles and satellites could also affect job opportunities.

“Existing employees may be made redundant, transferred or left without meaningful work while the same tasks are carried out by private contractors using publicly developed technology…Regular recruitment for Group A, B and C posts – already constrained by vacancies and attrition – will further decline, denying opportunity to deserving young people who look at Isro as a private job career, not a private job career.

In its closing comments, the letter reportedly congratulated ISRO on the success of the GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission.

“We present it in a constructive and democratic spirit,” he concluded. The authorities are expected to respond according to the written response.