IN-SPACe Headquarters
Department of Space, Government of India
Bopal-Shilaj Road, Bopal
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380058
Chairman: Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka
Email: contact-us[at]inspace[dot]gov[dot]in
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe)
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS). It is formed following the Space sector reforms to enable and facilitate the participation of private players.
IN-SPACe is responsible to promote, enable authorize and supervise various space activities of non-governmental entities including building launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services; sharing space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO; and establishing of new space infrastructure and facilities.
The agency acts as an interface between ISRO and Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) and assesses how to utilize India’s space resources better and increase space-based activities. It also assesses the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explores ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO.
The most famous “Indian National Space person” is Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984. Other Indian-origin individuals, like the recent Shubhanshu Shukla and the late Kalpana Chawla, have also reached space, but Sharma remains the first citizen.
First Indian-born woman in space, she was a naturalized U.S. citizen who flew with NASA.
Holds the record for the most spaceflights by an astronaut of Indian origin, with three spaceflights.