ISRO transfers satellite bus technology to Bengaluru-based private firm

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Last Updated08/08/2023

The ISRO recently began transferring IMS-1 Satellite Bus technology to Alpha Design Technologies, a Bengaluru-based private company.
The transfer was facilitated by ISRO’s commercial arm New Space India Limited (NSIL) through an agreement signed on Wednesday.
This technology signals the beginning of increased private participation in the Indian space industry.

It was developed by the UR Rao Satellite Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It is a small satellite platform designed to enable low-cost access to space.
Key Features
- The IMS-1 bus weighs about 100 kilograms and can carry a 30-kilogram payload.
- The solar arrays onboard generate 330 watts of power.
- It comes with four reaction wheels with a 1 Newton thruster that is good for pointing accuracy with an accuracy threshold of 0.1 Degrees.
- It was used in previous ISRO missions like IMS-1, Youthsat and Microsat-2D.
- It can serve as a dedicated vehicle for many different payloads, facilitating Earth imaging, ocean and atmospheric studies, microwave remote sensing and space science missions.

It is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
It is a Central Public Sector Enterprise of the Government of India.
It was established in 2019 under the administrative control of the Department of Space.
Primary Responsibility: Enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities.
Headquarters: Bengaluru