Mohali, Aug. 18 -- The opening of the space sector to private participation in June 2020 fuelled a boom with more than 450 space start-ups now operating in India, revealed Vinod Kumar, director, promotion directorate, IN-SPACe, at the two-day National Space Technology Conclave-2026 hosted by Chandigarh University on Monday.

The conclave, organised by the Kalpana Chawla Centre for Research in Space Science and Technology in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), brought together 30 eminent scientists, mission leaders and technologists, besides CEOs and senior representatives of the Indian space industry.

Kumar, who was the chief guest at the event, fur...