ISRO signs deal for first privately built satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a contract with a consortium of six companies to deliver the country’s first industry-built spacecraft by late 2017. The contract includes assembly, integration and testing (AIT) of two spare navigation satellites. The work to build the spacecraft will begin in January and will be carried out consecutively for 18 months. This is the first time that ISRO has outsourced an entire satellite to industry. The entities in the consortium are Alpha (defence manufacturing contractor), Newtech Solutions, Aidin Technologies and DCX Cables of Bengaluru, Vinyas Technologies of Mysuru and Avantel Systems of Hyderabad.

ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) assembles the satellites for communication, remote sensing and navigation.