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India’s Private Space Sector Grows Through Self-Reliance Push
Digantara is an Indian company that works on watching objects in space.
Its founders say they started the company in 2018.
After a satellite carrying parts they supplied was hit by space debris, they saw a need to track objects in orbit.
India later opened its space sector to private companies and created an agency to support and authorise them.
Digantara says it received authorisation in 2022 and sent its first payload into orbit that year.
In January 2025, it launched SCOT, a space-surveillance mission.
The founders say government support helped the company build technology in India and work with partners abroad.
They believe this technology can help protect national assets in space.
Digantara’s founders say the company began in 2018 and shifted to space surveillance after a supplied satellite component was hit by debris.
India opened the space sector to private enterprise in 2020 and established IN-SPACe to promote and authorise activity.
Digantara says it became one of the first two private companies authorised by IN-SPACe in 2022, when its first payload reached orbit.
The founders credit the Indian Space Policy, 2023, and operating rules issued in 2024 with enabling private participation across the space value chain.
Digantara launched SCOT, which the founders describe as India’s first homegrown space surveillance mission, in January 2025.
- Who
- Digantara and its founders, who say the Indian government has supported the company’s development.
- What
- The growth of Digantara and India’s private space sector, including the launch of the SCOT surveillance mission.
- Where
- India, with Digantara moving to Bengaluru and later announcing operations in Colorado.
- When
- The account covers events from 2018 through August of the article’s year; SCOT launched in January 2025.
- Why
- The founders say a satellite component they supplied was struck by space debris, prompting their focus on tracking and understanding objects in orbit.
Key facts
- Company founded
- Digantara was registered in 2018.
- Sector opening
- In 2020, the government opened the space sector to private enterprise and created IN-SPACe.
- Authorisation
- Digantara says it became one of the first two private companies authorised by IN-SPACe in 2022.
- Policy framework
- The Indian Space Policy was issued in 2023; operating norms, guidelines and procedures followed in 2024.
- SCOT launch
- Digantara launched SCOT in January 2025; its founders call it India’s first homegrown space surveillance mission.
- Colorado operations
- Digantara announced new operations in Colorado in February 2025.
- Government customer
- The founders say the Indian government is Digantara’s largest customer.
Quotes
Narendra Modi
India’s prime minister, quoted during a demonstration of Digantara’s second-generation optical payload.
“Is this for me?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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