In the vast expanse of the cosmos, a new chapter is unfolding as private space companies are not just reaching for the stars but are making significant strides in the global aerospace sector. The recent achievements of Skyroot, Agnikul Cosmos, Galaxeye, Dhruva and Pixxel are testaments to the burgeoning capabilities of private startups in space exploration, launch vehicles and satellite deployment.

Skyroot Aerospace, a trailblazer in the Indian private space sector, has been making headlines with its Vikram series of launch vehicles. Named after the father of the Indian space program, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, these vehicles represent a leap forward in making spaceflight more accessible and affordable. Skyroot’s successful test fires and the maiden launch of its ‘Vikram S’ suborbital rocket have positioned it as a formidable player in the space launch market.

Skyroot’s Vikram-S rocket, launched in Nov 2022, had carried a payload belonging to BAZOOMQ Space Research Lab, a non-profit space research lab based in Yerevan, Armenia, meant for atmospheric studies and analytical purposes. The company had also signed MoU with foreign entities, including Prométhée Earth Intelligence, based in Paris, to provide satellite launch services aboard their Vikram rockets for their JAPETUS earth observation constellation. These agreements validate the increasing confidence of overseas customers on the capabilities of the Indian launch market, especially the private space.

Agnikul Cosmos, Rocketry with Agnibaan SOrTeD.

“May 30, 2024 marks a historic achievement for not only Agnikul Cosmos, but, the entire Startup community of India, as they successfully launched the Agnibaan SOrTeD, a rocket powered by a semi-cryogenic engine. This engine, a marvel of engineering, uses available aviation turbine fuel and medical grade liquid oxygen, making it a cost-effective and easily sourced alternative to traditional rocket fuels,” Dr Srimathy Kesan, Founder, and CEO of SpaceKidz India, tells Financial Express Online in an exclusive interaction.

According to her, “The successful launch from their private pad at Sriharikota is a significant milestone for India’s private space industry and showcases the potential for flexible launch capabilities from multiple locations with minimal infrastructure.”

Adding to the excitement, “Pixxel is gearing up for an ambitious series of six satellite launches through collaborations with both ISRO and SpaceX. This strategic move underscores the company’s commitment to leveraging global partnerships to advance their hyperspectral imaging capabilities, which hold immense potential for industries such as agriculture, energy, and environmental monitoring,” Dr Kesan notes.

SpaceX has long been admired for its cost-effective launch solutions and rapid turnaround times, setting a high bar for operational efficiency in the space industry. With a record of launching missions with turnaround times as short as five days from the same launch pad and a pricing strategy that has disrupted the market, SpaceX continues to be a model for private space companies worldwide.

India’s Space Journey

India’s space journey has been bolstered by the reliable services of national carriers like the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). These carriers have been instrumental in placing numerous satellites into orbit, with PSLV earning the title of ‘the Workhorse of ISRO’. Now, with the advent of private players, there is a renewed focus on enhancing turnaround times and economic efficiency, further strengthening India’s position in the global space race.

Nurturing the Private Space Dream

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) are playing pivotal roles in nurturing the aspirations of private entities. According to Dr Kesan, by offering access to their facilities and expertise, they are enabling a new generation of space entrepreneurs to realize their dreams. This collaborative approach is not only accelerating India’s space endeavors but also fostering innovation and expanding the country’s capabilities in space technology.

In February 2017, ISRO launched a whopping 104 satellites in one mission with the PSLV-C37 rocket—a world record. Since then, ISRO has provided its launch services to many customers worldwide.

A recent notable launch was in March 2023, when ISRO launched 36 satellites for OneWeb, a UK satellite constellation company backed by India’s Bharti Enterprises. This was OneWeb’s second successful commercial launch from India. The launch deal was made through NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), highlighting how ISRO’s capabilities are supporting India’s growth in global commercial space operations.

It All Began 15 Years Ago in 2009

“The ISRO had launched its first Radar Imaging Satellite, RISAT-2, roughly a decade and a half ago, in April 2009, although it sounds like there should have been a Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT-1) first, that satellite was actually launched later in 2012. An urgent need for better all-weather space surveillance after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 was one of the main reasons for this launch,” Girish Linganna, Defence and Aerospace analyst tells Financial Express Online.

According to him, the RISAT-2 was a satellite designed to observe Earth using synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) technology. While it was used for surveillance, it had many other important uses. It helped with agriculture, forestry, estimating soil moisture and managing disaster. “SAR technology—a way in which satellites can take clear and detailed pictures of Earth, even though clouds or in the dark, by using radar waves instead of regular light—allowed it to take clear and detailed images from space,” he explains.

Start-ups started springing up in the country in early-2010. The first space start-up, Dhruva Space Private Limited, was established in Hyderabad in 2012, followed by Bellatrix Aerospace (2015), Aadyah Aerospace (2016), AgniKul Cosmos (2017), Manastu Space (2017), Skyroot Aerospace (2018), Satellize (2018) and Pixxel (2019), besides other, according to reports in the public domain. Today, there are more than 200 space start-ups registered in India, with investments amounting to Rs 1,000 crore by 2023 estimates.

Most of these entities are involved in designing and manufacturing satellites, launch vehicles, ground stations, propulsion systems, propellants and satellite subsystems. They offer launch services using ISRO’s PSLV/GSLV or private launch vehicles. Several of them also manufacture technological systems for control, monitoring, tracking and geospatial activities.

On May 1, 2024, GalaxEye, a startup based in Bengaluru, signed an agreement with the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), which is part of the Department of Space. This agreement allows GalaxEye to use ISRO’s facilities for developing their own SAR and multi-spectral imaging (MSI) technology—a technology that captures images of Earth in multiple wavelengths of light, beyond human vision. This helps in identifying and analysing various features on the ground, such as vegetation, minerals and water.

In 2023, GalaxEye created India’s first homegrown drone with SAR technology. Now, they are working on a private network of Earth observation satellites. They plan to launch their first satellite, called the Drishti Mission, within the next year.

According to GalaxEye, this satellite will be India’s first and the world’s highest-resolution, multi-sensor imaging satellite. A high-resolution, multi-sensor imaging satellite can capture extremely detailed images using multiple sensors, providing clear and precise data for various applications, such as mapping, monitoring and analysis.

The Future

The journey into space is no longer a monopoly of national agencies; it is a canvas for private enterprises to paint their ambitions and for humanity to expand its horizons. “As we look to the skies, let’s celebrate the leaps made by these companies and the boundless possibilities they herald for our future among the stars. India is contributing 8 percent of the global space economy, but now with the support of private players I expect it will pave way for an ambitious 15 percent in the next year, 2025 -2026 .