India registers 440 space startups as private investment surges

India is a country that wants to be a big player in space.

Many new small companies, called start-ups, want to build rockets and satellites.

About 440 of these space companies are now officially registered in India.

A special government office called IN-SPACe gives them permission to work in space.

It has given 113 permissions to 52 companies, and 18 of them are start-ups.

These companies can also use ISRO's rocket launch pads, like the ones in Sriharikota.

People who invest money are now putting much more money into Indian space companies.

The invested money grew from about 100 million dollars to more than 618 million dollars, with 187 million dollars just this year.

Two private rockets may launch next year, and more than six could launch the year after.

This all became possible because the government decided in June 2020 to let private companies join the space field.