India’s space agency is pushing through at a hectic pace, having solved key technology bottlenecks that had so far taken up much of its attention. It is also working on a joint venture, aiming at the first launch of a PSLV built by private industry by 2020, says ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar in an interview with Ajay Sukumaran. Edited excerpts:
The pace of launches has picked up in the past couple of years. Can you take us through this?
In January 2014, we had the successful indigenous engine and that December we also did a Mk III trial. That means we had overcome a significant amount of problems and got to a point where we could take stock and push things ahead.
What will be the road ahead?
Last year, we did about 10 activities with respect to overall launch, including our Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) technology demonstrator and air-breathing propulsion systems. This year too we want to do at least that many launches and have done four so far. We want to...
The Subcontinental Menu 
‘Our 4-Tonne Satellite Can Give Us The Uses Of A 6-Tonner’ 
