ISRO doesn't outsource its critical software system: Ex-Chief S. Somanath
What's the story
S. Somanath, the former chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has reiterated the agency's commitment to in-house software development. Speaking at the Software Product Management Summit, he underlined that ISRO does not outsource its software systems due to their deep integration with science and technology at the agency. The two-day summit was held from February 28 to March 1 at IIM Bangalore, focusing on 'Software Product Management Excellence at Scale.'
Evolution
A journey from environmental missions to commercial systems
Somanath also spoke about how software product management and development for space programs has evolved at ISRO. He observed a major shift from environment-centric missions to commercially operated systems. The former chief emphasized that every piece of software - be it for satellite operations, data analysis, or mission simulations - is built in-house at ISRO. This ensures accuracy, security, and scientific rigor in their work.
Application
ISRO's software systems: Serving diverse sectors
Over the years, ISRO has built complex software systems for applications ranging from geospatial data portals and disaster management platforms to climate monitoring tools. These tools cater to a wide variety of sectors, including governments, researchers, and the public. Somanath highlighted that ISRO's journey in software product development is not just about coding but also about translating raw scientific data into actionable intelligence.
Commercialization
Focus on commercialization and innovation
Somanath also revealed that ISRO is now focused on commercializing some of its software tools. The idea is to make these tools available to Indian institutions and industries, enabling innovation across various sectors. He believes India's future in space tech will be driven by a strong foundation in software excellence, developed at scale and refined through continuous learning and collaboration.