Last year, six students interned at a private space startup, Piersight, acing their projects and earning pre-placement offers. But when ISRO rolled out its job offers? All six walked away. Why? Because for India’s brightest space engineers, ISRO isn’t just a job; it’s a legacy. The private space sector is booming, with ₹2,000+ crore in funding and nearly 9,000 jobs… yet graduates still choose ISRO. The real story? IIST’s future now hinges on whether it can help students see beyond one agency; and private firms like Piersight need better hiring windows to compete. This isn’t just about jobs; it’s about who shapes India’s space future.