ISRO’s Desi Solar Cells to Power Satellites in Space, Will Save Crores!
Taking up the industrious process is Bharat Electronics Ltd which will begin production of the space solar cells at the ISRO facility in Bengaluru.
India has launched over 180 different satellites ever since its first satellite, Aryabhata I was launched in 1975. One of the major parts of satellites is the onboard solar power system called space solar cells as it keeps the satellite alive.
Till now, the solar cell technology was procured from the USA, and ISRO was entirely dependent on their imports.
ISRO Chairman K Sivan told The Times Of India, “Till now, we have been procuring space cells from US private companies for producing our satellite. Being a critical technology, imported cells costed us dearly.”
Well now, ISRO has bought the technology for space solar cells from the USA to mass produce them, right here in India.
Taking up the industrious process is Bharat Electronics Ltd which will begin production of the space solar cells at the ISRO facility in Bengaluru. The cells will be soon be used in future missions developed by ISRO.
K Sivan talked about the solar cells used in the satellite and told the publication, “For producing a small remote sensing satellite, 1,500 solar cells are needed. For a big satellite like GSAT, around 10,000 to 15,000 solar cells are imported. ISRO used around 20,000 solar cells for developing the country’s heaviest satellite– GSAT-11.”
He also talked about the cost, adding, “ISRO has to shell out Rs 15 crore for import of every 10,000 cells. If these cells are produced in the country, the cost will go down considerably.”
Further, the import sector has been facing several restrictions, and if it were to come to a standstill, the country’s satellite programmes would fall behind. Therefore, an independent source for a crucial technology would benefit the Indian Space Programme, K Sivan felt.
Building a native source for procurement of technology would not only bring down the costs for ISRO but also lead to the securing of many jobs.
(Edited by Shruti Singhal)
Hey, you may also like: ISRO’s ASTROSAT is Travelling Back In Time. Here’s How And Why!
Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: [email protected]
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
Similar Story
Laundromats in India? Couple Built Rs 100 Crore Biz Washing Dirty Linen Across 100 Cities
Faridabad’s Arunabh Sinha and his wife Gunjan Taneja launched UClean in 2017 to set up an organised laundromat service in India. Currently, they are spread across 100+ cities and have 350+ outlets across the country.
Read more >
If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.
Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-
By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let's ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.
Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?
This story made me
-
97 -
121 -
89 -
167
Home
Read
Watch
Contribute
