If India can make rocket sensors, it can also make car sensors, why did ISRO Chief Somnath say this?

New Delhi/ Bengaluru: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman S Somnath on Wednesday said car sensors should be manufactured domestically instead of relying on imports. Somnath stressed the importance of economical production in the session on space technology and defense organized at the Bengaluru Technology Conference. During this period, the draft of Karnataka Space Technology Policy was also released.

he/she said that although India makes significant investments in the production of rocket sensors, the high production cost of car sensors makes domestic manufacturing less viable. Somnath said feasibility for car sensors can be achieved only if production costs are reduced and the scale of manufacturing is increased. he/she called for greater collaboration with industry to address this challenge. he/she said that the policy intervention presented at the summit could provide a solution.

Somnath praised the space sector reforms of 2020 and the Space Policy 2023 for creating a conducive ecosystem for private sector growth. he/she said that a lot of interest is being taken in this area. I have heard that many people want to build the next SpaceX in India. Highlighting the related progress, Somnath said that currently five companies are manufacturing satellites and many companies are increasing their capacity to develop sub-systems for rockets and satellites.

Other important speakers at the session included Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Director General B K Das and US Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger. Karnataka Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science and Technology Priyank Kharge and Secretary, Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Ekrup Kaur were also present at the event.

Kharge said the draft policy envisages Karnataka achieving 50 per cent share in the national space market and establishing itself as a global hub for space technologies.