India successfully completed 12 launch vehicle missions, deployed 11 national satellites, and placed nine satellites for international customers in the three-year period from July 2023 to June 2026, Minister of State for the Department of Space Jitendra Singh informed Parliament on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The figures, shared in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, underscore a sustained operational tempo at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) even as the country expands its commercial launch ambitions.

Key Milestones of the Three-Year Period

Among the most consequential achievements of this period, India became the first country in the world to execute a soft landing near the South Pole of the Moon through the Chandrayaan-3 mission — a feat that no other space agency had managed before. The country also launched its first dedicated solar observatory, Aditya-L1, aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

India reached the landmark of 100 cumulative launches from its primary spaceport at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, during this window. Additionally, the country joined an elite group by becoming only the fourth nation to demonstrate in-orbit docking and undocking capabilities through the SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) mission. The CMS-03 mission, using the LVM3 launch vehicle, also set a record by placing the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

Launch Infrastructure Expansion

The Department of Space currently operates four launch vehicles — PSLV, GSLV, GSLV Mk III, and SSLV — serving earth observation, communication, navigation, space science, and commercial customers. The Union government has approved a Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota, which will support next-generation ISRO vehicles and serve as a standby for the existing Second Launch Pad.

Separately, the SSLV Launch Complex (SLC) at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu is being developed as India's second rocket launch site, catering to Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) missions and launches by private space start-ups and non-governmental entities. Singh said the Kulasekarapattinam facility, once operational, will 'substantially enhance the country's launch capacity, particularly for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles, improve launch frequency and provide greater flexibility to meet the increasing demand for commercial launches.'

Private Sector and Policy Reforms

To accelerate non-government participation, the Union government has introduced enabling measures including allowing private entities to establish temporary test facilities within ISRO premises, granting access to critical infrastructure, and cutting the time and cost of developing and validating launch systems. IN-SPACe has rolled out financial support for startups and MSMEs, streamlined authorisation processes, skill development programmes, technology commercialisation initiatives, and the promotion of space manufacturing clusters.

Revenue Growth and $44 Billion Target

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) recorded launch services revenue of ₹447.43 crore in 2024-25, more than double the ₹218.21 crore earned in 2023-24. IN-SPACe has also charted a strategic roadmap targeting India's space economy to reach $44 billion by 2033. This comes amid intensifying global competition in commercial launch services, with the domestic private sector now positioned as a key growth driver alongside ISRO's established programme.