India will have to re-engineer its launch vehicle systems to remain cost-effective in the face of emerging competition from space agencies in other countries, according to S. Rakesh, chairman and managing director, Antrix Corporation, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Talking to the media on the sidelines of a national symposium and exhibition organised by the Indian National Society for Aerospace and Related Mechanisms (INSARM) here on Friday, he said more affordable launch vehicles under development in countries such as the U.S., New Zealand, Russia, and China could pose a challenge to ISRO’s PSLV and other rockets in the near future.

“Today, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a much sought-after launch vehicle in the commercial satellite launch market and we would like to keep it that way. But low-cost options being developed in other countries could soon pose a threat. This would require design and engineering changes.”

Mr. Rakesh said the ISRO was already working on driving down the cost of satellite launches. “Tests are under way to come up with cheaper, reliable options.”

Earlier, inaugurating a two- day seminar over a video network from Bengaluru, ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar exhorted engineers to harness new technologies for innovative solutions in aerospace mechanisms. He called for more emphasis on the modelling and analysis of complex systems for better prediction of performance.

In his presidential address, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Director K. Sivan called on the scientific community to come up with cost-effective, autonomous, and reliable space systems. He added that aerospace mechanisms could play a key role in India’s manned space flight programme and other interplanetary missions in the pipeline.

Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) director S. Somanath said the Chandrayan-2 mission involving a controlled landing on the moon and a wheeled rover travelling on the surface would make use of aerospace mechanisms. He said the ISRO was also developing Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) launch vehicles and recoverable rockets.

A.M. Datar, president, Indian National Society for Aerospace and Related Mechanisms (INSARM); Tessy Thomas, director, Advanced Systems Laboratory; and Surendra Kumar, former director, Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), were among those who addressed the gathering.