Winning Bizness Desk

India’s Space Startups Plan Satellite Refuelling, Space Pharma, Debris Removal and Frequent Rocket Launches Across Global Markets

India’s private space sector is moving into a new phase, with startups working on technologies that could transform the way satellites are launched, serviced and used. At a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, founders of 20 Indian space startups outlined plans ranging from refuelling satellites and removing orbital debris to manufacturing medicines in microgravity. The interaction took place on August 21, while its video was released on August 23. Modi assured the entrepreneurs that the government would continue to support those willing to take risks and build new capabilities.

Skyroot plans monthly rocket launches soon

Skyroot Aerospace told Modi that it is targeting one rocket launch every month after successfully demonstrating India’s private orbital launch capability. The Hyderabad-based company has already set up three factories, each contributing to its ability to scale production, and plans to eventually move from monthly launches to weekly launches and, later, multiple launches a day.

Skyroot launched Vikram-1 on July 18, placing satellites into orbit in what was described as India’s first successful launch of a private orbital rocket. Modi had spoken to the startup’s founder over the phone after the successful mission. The company’s expansion plans indicate the growing ambition among Indian private players to build a high-frequency commercial launch ecosystem.

Startups developing space petrol pumps

Indian startups are also working on technologies that could allow satellites to be serviced while in orbit, reducing the need to replace them when their fuel runs out. One company is developing docking and refuelling technology that would allow a spacecraft to connect with satellites and replenish their fuel in space.

The projects discussed during the meeting include:

• Space “petrol pumps” for satellite docking and refuelling.
• Robotic spacecraft to capture and remove dead satellites.
• Satellites designed to manufacture medicines and proteins in microgravity.
• Space pharma could transform medicine making

Another startup is developing satellites that could manufacture medicines in the near-weightless environment of space and bring the products back to Earth. On Earth, gravity can affect the behaviour and mixing of chemicals and proteins during manufacturing. Microgravity can provide different conditions, potentially allowing some compounds and proteins to form in a more controlled manner.

The idea reflects the widening scope of India’s private space industry, where companies are looking beyond launch vehicles and satellite manufacturing towards specialised applications that could have commercial uses on Earth.

Indian talent returning from America, Europe

India’s growing private space ecosystem is also attracting engineers and specialists working in the US and Europe. Professionals who previously worked overseas are reportedly returning to India and joining domestic space startups. Modi said India should create an ecosystem strong enough to attract talent from across the world and make the country a preferred destination for careers in the space sector.

International demand is also beginning to grow. Indian startups are developing global ground-station networks and preparing to export satellite propulsion systems. These engines help satellites manoeuvre in space and can support their operations for five to 15 years.

Eight new global contracts secured recently

Indian companies are benefiting from their combination of relatively lower costs and access to skilled engineers. The startups told Modi that they had secured eight new launch contracts in the past month, with most of the clients coming from overseas markets.

The developments point to a shift in India’s space industry, from primarily serving domestic requirements to competing for business in the global commercial space market.

Space data to support one million farmers

The startups are also looking to use India’s growing space capabilities to address challenges on the ground. Space-tech companies plan to use satellite data to support nearly 10 lakh farmers by providing more accurate information on weather, soil moisture and crop health.

The wider ambition is to turn India’s expanding space capabilities into practical applications across sectors, while creating a globally competitive private space industry. The plans presented to Modi suggest that India’s next space race may involve not just putting satellites into orbit, but also servicing them, cleaning up space, manufacturing products there and using space-based data to improve life on Earth.