The first rocket built by a consortium of private firms in the country is set for launch by 2020. If successful, this would increase capacity to hurl small satellites into space, meeting both local demand and serving global customers such as OneWeb.

Till now, Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) was the only manufacturer of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). In the two decades since its debut launch, PSLVs have done 35 flights, hurling 86 satellites - including 45 foreign, small and medium satellites - into space. Isro built this rocket by integrating components and systems ...