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From launch vehicles to <keyword id="41531" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="space" source="Orion">space</keyword> tourism, India's space sector start-ups are set to soar after <keyword id="7537495" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="skyroot-aerospace" source="Orion">Skyroot Aerospace</keyword>'s maiden suborbital flight from the spaceport at Sriharikota on Friday. The Vikram-S rocket, developed over the past two years and built using 3-D printing technology, reached an altitude of 89.5 km. Chennai-based <keyword id="7122982" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="agnikul-cosmos" source="Orion">Agnikul Cosmos</keyword> is set to test its Agnibaan-1 in a suborbital flight sometime next month. "We plan to have the first launch of Agnibaan before the end of this year," Srinath Ravichandra, co-founder of Agnikul, told PTI. Earlier this month, Agnikul received a flight termination system from the <keyword id="119061" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-space-research-organization" source="Orion">Indian Space Research Organization</keyword>, the first-ever such transfer for a launch vehicle developed by the private sector. As <keyword id="9750118" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="skyroot" source="Orion">Skyroot</keyword> and Agnikul focus on launching payloads in <keyword id="13468573" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="orbit" botkeyword="" source="ET" sourcekeytype="COMPANY" meta.keywordsubtype="EQ" meta.aliasname="orbit" meta.entityname="Orbit Multimedia Ltd." meta.entityid="5254" meta.seoname="orbit-multimedia-ltd">orbit</keyword>, <keyword id="15447669" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="space-aura-aerospace-technology-pvt-ltd" source="Orion">Space Aura Aerospace Technology Pvt Ltd</keyword> and <keyword id="15554246" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="astroborne-space" source="Orion">Astroborne Space</keyword> and <keyword id="222040" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="defence-technologies" source="Orion">Defence Technologies</keyword> are planning forays into space tourism and the development of crew modules and space suits, respectively. "We plan to set up India's first private astronaut training facility soon," Akshat <keyword id="13896424" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="mohite" botkeyword="" source="ET" sourcekeytype="COMPANY" meta.keywordsubtype="EQ" meta.aliasname="mohite" meta.entityname="Mohite Industries Ltd." meta.entityid="5048" meta.seoname="mohite-industries-ltd">Mohite</keyword>, co-founder and CEO of Astroborne Space and Defence Technologies said. "The maiden launch by a new start-up has significantly enhanced the credibility of Indian private space players around the globe. The capability that the sector has been claiming has been demonstrated in Space," <keyword id="12263484" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indian-space-association" source="Orion">Indian Space Association</keyword> Director-General Lt Gen AK Bhatt told PTI. Bhatt said India's space economy was set to grow to USD 13 billion and the space launch segment was estimated to grow the fastest by 2025. It will be further spurred by growing private participation, the latest technology adoption and the low cost of launch services and this launch is a major landmark for this growth to take place in the coming years, he said. Inspired by Elon Musk's SpaceX, Mumbai-based Space Aura has begun developing a space capsule measuring 10 feet x 8 feet to ferry six tourists and a pilot into space. Space Aura CEO Akash <keyword id="1473207" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="porwal" botkeyword="" source="ET" sourcekeytype="COMPANY" meta.keywordsubtype="EQ" meta.aliasname="porwal" meta.entityname="Porwal Auto Components Ltd." meta.entityid="10373" meta.seoname="porwal-auto-components-ltd">Porwal</keyword> said he planned to have the maiden launch of the space capsule using a high-altitude balloon by 2025. The space capsule will be propelled by a balloon filled with helium or hydrogen gas up to 30 to 35 km above sea level where space tourists can witness the Earth's curvature and the blackness of space for around an hour, Porwal said. The space balloon will be slowly deflated and a parachute unpacked to bring down the spaceship. At a definite point, the space balloon will be detached from the capsule and the tourists brought down safely. Porwal said his company had identified two places in Karnataka and <keyword id="6355554" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="madhya-pradesh" source="Orion">Madhya Pradesh</keyword> from where the flight into space could be launched. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/vikram-s-marks-the-beginning-of-private-venture-in-indian-space-programme-with-maiden-success/articleshow/95598949.cms">Vikram-S marks "The Beginning" of private venture in Indian space programme with maiden success</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/iit-kanpur-researcher-develops-technology-to-turn-acs-into-air-purifiers/articleshow/95601694.cms">IIT Kanpur researcher develops technology to turn ACs into air purifiers</a>

From launch vehicles to space tourism, Indian space start-ups aim high

Small rocket maker Agnikul Cosmos Private Ltd is looking at overseas rocket ports to launch its rocket with small satellites apart from the Indian rocket launch centres, said a top company official. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77506716" title="India’s first private player to successfully test a homegrown rocket engine is on track for its first full rocket launch by 2021" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> "Our first preference is to use Indian rocket ports at Sriharikota or the upcoming one at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu (both belonging to the Indian Space Research Organisation). If the customer prefers the launch to happen from some other country, we will ship the rocket and launch from there," Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO Agnikul Cosmos Pvt Ltd, told IANS. In July 2020, Agnikul signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italian company Leaf Space for ground station services. Ravichandran said the company has signed up with a launch port in South Australia and is exploring four to five launch ports across the world. The company is hopeful of signing a satellite launch contract in 2021 and the debut launch of its rocket 'Agnibaan' is planned for 2022. Towards roping in customers Agnikul has recently signed up with Germany based HOSTmi - a match making platform between satellite owners and satellite launch companies. "HOSTmi is supported by the European Space Agency to make it easy for European customers to have on-demand access to space," Ravichandran said. According to Ravichandran, Agnikul has already signed MoUs with several European customers - Deployables Cube, Alen Space, Innovative Solutions in Space, Nanoavionics A-A to launch their small satellite systems. Speaking about the status of the Agnibaan rocket, he said the upper stage engine has been realised and work is on for realising the first stage engine, which is bigger in size to give the necessary thrust during the initial stages of the rocket's flight. All the engines will be fired by semi-cryogenic fuel or simply put pure kerosene. The rocket height will be 18 metres and it would weigh about 14 tons at lift off and has a carrying capacity of 100 kg to low earth orbit (LEO). "We will be integrating the rocket stages in a horizontal manner. Horizontal integration is not new for the industry. Our workshop is in IIT Madras Research Park. We will be needing additional space," Ravichandran said. While there is no certifying agency for satellite launchers, Ravichandran said the company has asked ISRO to review their engine. "Having now completed multiple engine firings and igniter hot fire tests, we are now gearing up to a full blown semi-cryogenic engine hot fire test in the coming months," he remarked. Agnikul will buy commercially available navigation systems and modify them to its needs. According to Ravichandran, the global micro, nano and small satellite (satellites weighing 1kg to 150kg) launch market is estimated to be about $2-$3 billion per year. About 500 satellites are being launched across the world and the carrying rate is about $40,000 per kg for low earth orbit. Presently, small satellites are carried as piggyback luggage by bigger rockets. Thus, the waiting time for small satellite makers to put their satellites into orbit is very long. While small rocket players may face competition from agencies having bigger rockets in terms of pricing, Ravichandran said the satellite players will have to look at the opportunity cost of waiting for space in a bigger rocket whereas it may not be so with players like Agnikul. He said Agnikul has raised $4 million in two rounds of funding till date. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/nasa-confirms-that-the-dent-in-earths-protective-shield-is-splitting-into-two-and-it-is-getting-bigger/articleshow/77611768.cms">NASA confirms that the dent in Earth’s protective shield is splitting into two as it gets bigger</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/elon-musks-spacex-catches-falcon-9s-rocket-head-for-the-third-time-in-a-row-with-a-giant-net-out-in-the-middle-of-the-atlantic-ocean/articleshow/77631212.cms">Elon Musk’s SpaceX catches Falcon 9’s rocket head for the third time in a row — with a giant net out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/skyroot-aerospace-successfully-tests-homegrown-rocket-engine-is-on-track-for-its-first-full-rocket-launch-by-2021/articleshow/77506716.cms">India’s first private player to successfully test a homegrown rocket engine is on track for its first full rocket launch by 2021</a>

Indian space startup Agnikul may be looking outside India to launch its rockets

With the government opening up the space sector for private investments, Chennai-based rocket making start-up <keyword id="7122982" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="agnikul-cosmos">Agnikul Cosmos</keyword> Private Ltd is expecting to have its rocket ready by 2022, said a top company official. "We have realised the engine for the upper stage or third stage and work is on for the first and second stage engines of the rocket. We hope to have the engines in seven months' time. Depending on how the Covid-19 lockdown progresses, we expect the rocket to be ready by later part of 2022," Co-founder and CEO Srinath Ravichandran told IANS. Agnikul, he said, is developing a three-stage (three engine) rocket, powered by kerosene or semi-cryogenic fuel with a carrying capacity of 100 kg to low earth orbit. The rocket height will be 18 metres and it would weigh about 13 ton at liftoff. According to Ravichandran, the company will buy commercially-available navigation systems and modify them to its needs. The company, which has 50 employees, is currently working out of the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development located at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. Ravichandran said that Agnikul has raised about Rs 26 crore till date from various investors and the promoters have also put in their own funds. Agreeing that the money in rocket launch services is very low compared to that in satellite application service and ground equipment, Ravichandran said: "The estimated market for small satellite launches is about $ 2-2.5 million per year. This market will grow when there are rockets available for putting into orbit small satellites." Presently, small satellites are carried as piggyback luggage by bigger rockets. Thus, the waiting time for small satellite makers to put their satellites into orbit is very long. "But if there are rockets available to launch small satellites, then the market for such satellites and also for small rockets will increase," Ravichandran said. While small rocket players may face competition from agencies having bigger rockets in terms of pricing, Ravichandran said the satellite players will have to look at the opportunity cost of waiting for the space in a bigger rocket whereas it may be not be so with players like Agnikul. Currently the US-based Rocket Lab is the only player in the segment that Agnikul is targeting. "By 2022, more number of such small rockets are expected to come into the satellite launch vehicle market," Ravichandran said. As regards the rocket ports, Agnikul will be looking at using the existing rocket port at Sriharikota belonging to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) or the one that is coming up at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu. Happy at the Indian government's decision to open up the space sector for private players Ravichandran said the proposed Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) should have technical experts so that valid proposals are taken forward as well as marketing people who understand business. According to the Indian government, IN-SPACe will provide a level playing field for private companies to use Indian space infrastructure.

Indian start-up is building a three-stage rocket that could be ready to launch by 2022

<ul><li><keyword id="10730402" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-space-startup-agnikul">Indian space startup Agnikul</keyword> Cosmos has become the world’s first company to successfully test a fully <keyword id="3176690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="3D-printed-rocket-engine">3D printed rocket engine</keyword>.</li><li>It only takes four days to produce and can carry payloads of upto 100 kilos into lower earth orbit (LEO).</li><li>While the first company to be successful in such an endeavour, there are others who are fast catching up and realise the value of 3D printed engines versus conventional assembly.</li></ul>Rocket engines are tough to build, and they’re even tougher to 3D print because all the details have to be ‘just right’ for the rocket to work successfully. But, an <keyword id="10031551" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-space-startup">Indian space startup</keyword> based out of Chennai has pulled off this mammothian task. <keyword id="7122982" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="agnikul-cosmos">Agnikul Cosmos</keyword> has successfully fired its higher stage semi-cryogenic <keyword id="413298" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rocket-engine">rocket engine</keyword> called Agnilet. “This entire engine, Agnilet, is just one piece of hardware from start to finish and has zero assembled parts,” said co-founder and CEO Srinath Ravichandran. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[]]></cdata></div> Normally, rocket engines have 100s of different parts that have to be built individually. This includes things like injectors which inject fuel into the engine, cooling channels that ensure the engine doesn’t overheat and the igniter which actually kindles propellants to push the rocket off the ground. Agnilet, on the other hand, is a three-in-one solution. It takes all three of these modules and puts them into a single piece of hardware. There is no complex assembly and the turnaround time for the entire setup is less than four days. The rocket engine is capable of carrying upto 100 kilos to low earth orbit (LEO), which is around 700 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. That’s only a fraction of what the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is capable of and possibly only enough to carry a single satellite at most. Agnikul may be the first to be successful, but it’s not alone Agnikul was the first <keyword id="3081463" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-space">Indian space</keyword> startup to enter into a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the Department of Space (DoS) under the newly established Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). <div type="image" title="Agnilet - Agnibaan’s higher stage semicryogenic engine(1)" msid="80763882" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Agnilet - Agnibaan’s higher stage semicryogenic engine&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Another space startup that’s hot its heels is Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace founded by former Indian Space Research Organisation (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka. In September last year, they too revealed their fully 3D printer cryogenic rocket engine dubbed Dhawan-I. Dhawan-I will be used to power the Vikram-II rocket, which Skyroot is also building from scratch. The startup entered an NDA with the DoS earlier this month on February 2. They will be able to use ISRO’s test and launch facilities to test their Vikram-I rocket and eventually Dhawan-I as well. The global space industry is expected to generate $1.1 trillion or more by 2040, according to <a href="https://www.morganstanley.com/ideas/investing-in-space">Morgan Stanley</a> — more than triple its current value of $350 billion. And, new space engine technology like 3D printed rocket engines are expected to play a big role in this explosion of value. But even international players like Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), <a href="https://3dprint.com/278184/startup-accelerator-ursa-major-is-3d-printing-rocket-engines-to-grow-space-economy/">Ursa Major</a> and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are only 3D printing components for rocket engines. This means that putting together these engines and making sure they work is still a fairly complicated task. The only US-based startup close to producing a fully 3D printed rocket engine is <a href="https://manufactur3dmag.com/firehawk-aerospace-raises-2-million-for-3d-printed-rocket-engines/">Firehawk Aerospace</a>, and they only just raised the $2 million needed to start on their project. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/meet-the-lawyer-turned-fitness-entrepreneur-who-is-training-alia-bhatt-ranbir-kapoor-kiara-advani-among-others/articleshow/80761071.cms">Meet the lawyer-turned-fitness entrepreneur who is training Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Kiara Advani among others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/joe-biden-and-narendra-modi-spoke-over-the-phone-last-night-heres-what-they-discussed/articleshow/80759960.cms">Joe Biden and Narendra Modi spoke over the phone last night⁠— here’s what they discussed</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/meet-the-it-veteran-making-a-comeback-as-tech-mahindras-cfo/articleshow/80708957.cms">Meet the 63-year old making a comeback as Tech Mahindra's CFO</a>

Indian space startup fires world’s first fully 3D printed rocket engine as others play catch up

The Department of Space on Thursday said it has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Chennai-based small rocket company <keyword id="7122982" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="agnikul-cosmos">Agnikul Cosmos</keyword> Pvt Ltd to access the facilities and technical expertise available in <keyword id="116095" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Space-Research-Organisation">Indian Space Research Organisation</keyword> (<keyword id="6358064" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro">ISRO</keyword>) centres. According to DoS, this is the first NDA to be signed after the establishment of IN-SPACe, the authorization and regulatory body for enabling private players to undertake space activities in India. Under the NDA, Agnikul Cosmos will be enabled to access the facilities and technical expertise available in ISRO centres to proceed with their launch vehicle development programme. The start-up company is located in the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The NDA was signed in the presence of Space Secretary and ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan, and IIT-Madras Director Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi. R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO, was the signatory on behalf of Department of Space for the NDA and Agnikul Cosmos CEO Srinath Ravichandran on behalf of the company. The ISRO officials assured all support to Agnikul Cosmos for testing and qualifying its rocket. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sbis-mobile-banking-app-is-down-for-the-third-time-in-last-30-days/articleshow/79548953.cms">SBI’s mobile banking app is down for the third time in 30 days — digital services take a hit for the 25th time this year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/ultratech-cements-5477-crore-expansion-plan-is-a-sign-that-birla-is-betting-on-a-faster-economic-recovery/articleshow/79549626.cms">UltraTech Cement's ₹5,477 crore expansion plan is a sign that Birla is betting on a faster economic recovery</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-directs-hdfc-bank-to-suspend-its-digital-business-and-new-credit-cards-amid-rising-incidents-of-outages/articleshow/79542055.cms">RBI tells HDFC Bank to stop new digital launches and selling new credit cards after recent outages of online banking</a>

ISRO gives a rocket building startup access to its facilities

<ul><li><keyword id="5961836" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bellatrix-aerospace" source="Orion">Bellatrix Aerospace</keyword> has raised $8 million in a round led by Inflexor Venture LLP and BASF Venture Capital GmbH.</li><li>The company plans to use this funding to start expanding commercial operations their operations by the end of 2022.</li><li>It will be launching space taxis and expanding its propulsion systems for commercial use.</li></ul>Spacetech startup <keyword id="2578058" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bellatrix" source="Orion">Bellatrix</keyword> Aerospace is raising $8 million in a round led by Inflexor Venture and BASF Venture Capital GmbH, the corporate venture company of the German multinational chemical company BASF SE. StartupXseed, Pavestone Capital, Mankind Pharma family office, Survam Partners and Karsemven Fund also participated in this Series A round, along with other prominent family offices and angel investors. Bellatrix was founded in 2015 by Rohan M Ganapathy and Yashas Karanam — is in the business of manufacturing satellite launch vehicles and propulsion systems. It co-exists with other spacetech companies like Agnikul, Dhruva Space and Pixxel. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Space taxis as a B2B offering" comment="subhead" text="Space taxis as a B2B offering">Space taxis as a B2B offering</cmsannotation> The company plans to use this funding to expand its commercialization efforts by the end of 2022 with the launch of space taxis, Bellatrix’s chief executive officer Rohan M Ganapathy told Business Insider. “The technologies being developed for use in space have the potential to offer many opportunities for the chemical industry, for example in new materials and for innovative application cases of chemistry on earth and in orbit. In India in particular, this industry is currently experiencing an unprecedented upturn," said Markus Solibieda, MD of BASF Venture Capital GmbH. Space taxis would be a business-to-business offering, which will allow the company to launch multiple micro-satellites into space on behalf of its clients using one Orbital Transfer Vehicle. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Size does matter" comment="subhead" text="Size does matter">Size does matter</cmsannotation> Ganapathy explained that the size of satellites have been reducing, while the size of rockets or space launch vehicles has remained consistent. Launching small satellites on this big rocket is expensive and it underutilizes the space available. This has brought opportunities for several big spacetech companies to develop small launch vehicles, but it is again an expensive process. “It is again like a chartered flight, it is still expensive,” he noted. “What we want to do is, look at the underutilized capacity of the larger rocket, whose launch frequency is expected to increase. We want to ensure that our OTV [Orbital Transfer Vehicle] can make ridesharing on such launches cost efficient, precise and quicker,” he said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Many satellites, one rocket" comment="subhead" text="Many satellites, one rocket">Many satellites, one rocket</cmsannotation> Space Taxi will utilize the additional capacity of the bigger rocket and carry many passengers [satellites] who want to go to multiple different orbits,” Ganapathy, founder, CTO and CEO of Bellatrix explained. The initial version of the Space Taxi, called the Pushpak, can carry satellites up to 600 kg. “We see the space industry is growing exponentially, and Bellatrix’s products will play a major part in democratizing access to the space industry with their cost-effective and power-efficient thruster systems, ideal for small satellite manufacturers,” said Venkat Vallabhaneni, managing partner at Inflexor Ventures. The company also tested a green propulsion system last month. Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. The company plans to hire 40 more employees across both technology and business verticals, Karanam added. While the company will be looking to hire tech talent from India, the business talent would be hired all across the globe. SEE ALSO <a class="tout-title-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/mukesh-ambanis-jio-lags-behind-airtel-which-is-the-top-telecom-brand-in-india/articleshow/91935279.cms">Mukesh Ambani's Jio lags behind Airtel which is the top telecom brand in India</a> <a class="tout-title-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/foreign-inventors-hit-a-record-with-selloffs-in-may-and-they-will-keep-exiting-say-experts/articleshow/91934731.cms">Foreign investors are as spooked as they were in the first month of lockdown in India</a> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/zomato-paytm-nykaa-and-others-spent-6000-crore-on-their-employees-last-year/articleshow/91931970.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Zomato, Paytm, Nykaa and others spent ₹6,000 crore on their employees last year</a>

This startup which makes satellite launches cheaper and faster raises funds to start commercial operations

<ul><li>Cryogenic rocket engines run on propellant that can be stored at extremely low temperatures of less than -150° celsius.</li><li><keyword id="7537495" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Skyroot-Aerospace" source="Orion">Skyroot Aerospace</keyword> is the first Indian companies to work with <keyword id="6358064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="isro" source="Orion">ISRO</keyword>.</li><li>The company is currently in talks to raise $40 million funding from new and existing investors.</li><li><keyword id="9750118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skyroot" source="Orion">Skyroot</keyword> was founded by former ISRO scientists <keyword id="7537908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pawan-Kumar-Chandana" source="Orion">Pawan Kumar Chandana</keyword> and Naga Bharath Daka.</li></ul>Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace is in talks to raise $40 million from both new and existing investors in the Indian startup ecosystem, in order to fund its commercial operations that are scheduled to launch next year. The company has previously raised<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/skyroot-aerospace-raises-11-million-in-funding-with-plans-to-have-vikram-1-on-the-launch-pad-by-mid-2022/articleshow/82788901.cms"> $11 million in Series A</a> round, which is the biggest funding round announced by any Indian spacetech startup. Its rival Agnikul had also announced its<a href="https://inc42.com/buzz/spacetech-startup-agnikul-raises-11-mn-to-take-next-step-in-satellite-innovation/"> $11 million</a> funding round the same date. Skyroot is backed by Greenko Group founders Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli. Other notable investors also include former WhatsApp global business chief Neeraj Arora, Graph Ventures, and Worldquant Ventures. The company had also raised over ₹10 crore from Mukesh Bansal, who had founded Myntra (bought by Flipkart) and Cure.fit, back in 2018. The company’s previous fundraise of $11 million will be used by Skyroot to complete development of its satellite launch vehicle by mid next year. When asked about the planned $40 million funding, Pawan Kumar Chandana, cofounder and chief executive of Skyroot, told Business Insider, “New capital [is] to ramp up production for commercial launches in 2022 and 2023.” Testing India's first cryogenic rocket engine by a private company The journey of Skyroot Aerospace has been of many firsts. It is the first <a href="https://m.economictimes.com/tech/startups/skyroot-aerospace-first-spacetech-startup-to-formally-sign-up-with-isro/articleshow/86118177.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">private companies </a>to formally work with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to test and qualify its small rocket, capable of lifting up to 2,000 kilograms. The company — founded by former ISRO scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in 2018 — has added another feather to its cap. Skyroot Aerospace is now the first Indian private aerospace company to successfully test a fully cryogenic rocket engine, named Dhawan-1 in honour of eminent Indian scientist Satish Dhawan. The engine runs on two high-performance rocket propellants (a combination of fuel and oxidiser to move the rocket) — Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquid Oxygen (LoX). In this case, LNG is the fuel which is mostly made of methane and LoX is the oxidiser, both of these elements mix and produce energy to drive a rocket. <div type="image" title="INTERVIEW: These former ISRO scientists are hoping for the biggest-ever funding in the Indian spacetech industry" msid="87923115" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Dhawan-1, Skyroot&amp;#39;s fully cryogenic rocket engine&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> These propellants can be stored at extremely low — also known as cryogenic — temperatures of less than -150° celsius. Therefore, it is called a cryogenic engine. Simplifying a cryogenic engine Rockets usually run on liquid hydrogen and kerosene, which have their own issues when dealing with extreme temperatures in space, Skyroot’s chief executive Chandana explained to Business Insider. Hydrogen is difficult to handle, highly inflammable and starts boiling at higher temperature, whereas kerosene freezes sooner. Cryogenic propellants like Methane used in liquid natural gas (LNG) and oxygen used in Liquid Oxygen (LoX) are much more efficient to handle and are cleaner. Therefore, they are the propellent for the future. A team of 20 people at Skyroot have been working on this technology for the last two years, and started manufacturing in October 2020. No company has flown these propellants to space yet, Chandana added. Skyroot’s cryogenic engines are 3D printed, which is reducing the manufacturing time by 95% and increasing efficiency of the engine compared to conventional methods. “Conventional engines have several components welded and limitations on the contours that can be manufactured,” Chandana added. These engines give out higher efficiency compared to a conventional alternative engine, he added. An add-on to boost Skyroot’s in-house developed technology While there is still time for Skyroot to take this technology to space, it is planning to launch its Vikram-1 next year by incorporating it into the company’s in-house orbital vehicle Vikram series to carry small satellites to space. The Vikram Series has three vehicles to its product line. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Orbit Vehicle </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Feature </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vikram 1 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Orbit vehicle developed in partnership with ISRO. It will be launched to space by next year. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vikram 2 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">An upgraded version of Vikram-1, would run on a cryogenic engine. It will improve Skyroot’s capacity to carry satellites to space and the cost decreases. </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Vikram 3 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Would have an add-on booster to further enhance efficiency and capacity of a cryogenic engine. </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> The company will not be licensing or selling its cryogenic engine technology to any other partners, but will use it to boost its operations. It will partner with other companies that have the capability of manufacturing satellites, mainly in earth observation and communication satellites, and help them launch it to space. <div type="image" title="INTERVIEW: These former ISRO scientists are hoping for the biggest-ever funding in the Indian spacetech industry" msid="87912018" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Skyroot&amp;#39;s satellite launch vehicle Vikram Series&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Hyderabad-based Skyroot claims that it will probably be the cheapest satellite launch vehicle in the world. Skyroot, which competes with Agnikul, another Indian space startup, that makes similar claims about pricing and 3D printing of launchers, will charge a customer based on the weight of the satellite. Agnikul, like Skyroot, is also working with ISRO and plans to launch its orbit vehicle to space by next year. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/asian-paints-denies-poor-governance-allegation-by-proxy-advisory-firm-ingovern/articleshow/87910128.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Asian Paints denies poor governance allegations by proxy advisory firm Ingovern that triggered its stock</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/latent-view-analytics-looks-to-acquire-small-data-analytics-companies-focused-in-europe-and-us/articleshow/87911242.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">INTERVIEW: After a blockbuster listing, Latent View Analytics looks to acquire small data analytics companies focused in Europe and US</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/investment/news/heres-a-quick-look-at-how-the-evolution-of-cryptocurrencies-has-played-out-in-india/slidelist/87902549.cms">India’s crypto regulations have been caught in limbo — here’s how the past decade has played out</a>

INTERVIEW: These former ISRO scientists are hoping for the biggest-ever funding in the Indian spacetech industry

<ul><li><keyword id="599245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-view" source="Orion">World View</keyword> is developing a balloon-capsule system for trips to the <keyword id="42628" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="stratosphere" source="Orion">stratosphere</keyword>.</li><li>You will fly onboard a pressurised capsule that will be carried by a giant helium balloon.</li><li>The first trips are planned for 2024 with tickets selling for $50,000 per seat.</li></ul>Fan of hot air balloons? Now you could fly into<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/the-james-webb-space-telescope-its-designed-to-search-the-first-galaxies-formed-after-big-bang/slidelist/86670502.cms"> space</a>, well almost, in something similar and as early as 2024. World View Enterprises, an American near-space exploration and technology company, is offering commercial rides to the stratosphere through a balloon-based system. Each ride will have a duration of around six to 12 hours and it will cost $50,000 per seat. World View plans to take passengers up to an altitude of 100,000 which will let them get a view of the earth’s curvature against the backdrop of space, according to an <a href="https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1444991088998105088">interview</a> by the Today Show. Passengers will fly aboard the Explorer Capsule which is a pressurised capsule that will be carried up by a massive helium balloon that’s almost the size of a football stadium. Each flight will carry eight passengers and two crew members. The company plans to fly 3,000 balloons a year that can only be used once. According to Space.com, the balloons will be<a href="https://www.space.com/world-view-space-tourism-stratosphere-balloon"> recycled</a> to use as products that will benefit communities near the liftoff site. The journey back to earth will be taken over by a GPS-guided parafoil that will guide the capsule to a precise location for it to land. Tickets for the stratosphere ride are available now, and 250 people have already ordered them so far. It’s not just a near-space experience that World View is offering as it plans to launch the capsule from seven sites around the world like the Aurora Borealis in Norway, Grand Canyon in the US, and the Great Barrier Reef. With this, the entire duration of the trip will be for five days. World View promises a luxurious near-space journey with the Explorer Capsule featuring onboard video cameras that will capture your entire journey. It will also have telescopes so you can zoom in to see what’s below and also the stars above. The Explorer Capsule will also offer a variety of dining options and bars, and Wi-Fi connectivity too. World View says that the Explorer Capsule can accommodate people of all ages and physical conditions. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Not the first planned stratospheric trip" comment="subhead" text="Not the first planned stratospheric trip">Not the first planned stratospheric trip</cmsannotation> This is actually World View’s second attempt at <keyword id="130496" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-tourism" source="Orion">space tourism</keyword>. Its first plan was a similar balloon-capsule system called Voyager that was supposed to launch in 2016 and fly people to the stratosphere. Two of World View’s co-founders, Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter, also started a rival company called Space Perspective that plans to offer its own space tourism with ‘Spaceship Neptune’. This balloon-capsule system is also scheduled to take off in 2024 with tickets selling for $125,000 per seat. 2024 will be the year to mark to possibly spot humongous balloons flying up in the sky. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/the-james-webb-space-telescope-its-designed-to-search-the-first-galaxies-formed-after-big-bang/slidelist/86670502.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">The James Webb Space Telescope — it’s designed to search the first galaxies formed after Big Bang</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/india-set-to-witness-its-spacex-moment-soon-says-agnikul-ceo/articleshow/86723308.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">India set to witness its SpaceX moment soon, says Agnikul CEO</a>

You might be able to take a trip to the stratosphere with a balloon by 2024

<ul><li>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) budget is expected to increase by 35% in the coming year. </li><li>The influx of funds will also help bolster the activities of the private sector. </li><li>Just as ISRO is looking into more launches in the coming years, start-ups are also gearing up to enter the satellite launch market. </li></ul>The Indian Space Research Organisation (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isros-nsil-completes-second-successful-launch-using-pslv-rockets/articleshow/72474132.cms">ISRO</a>) is expected to bolster ahead despite the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/chandrayaan-2-fails-in-the-final-seconds-of-descent-to-moons-south-pole/articleshow/71018196.cms">failed landing</a> of Chandrayaan 2 earlier this year. The agency’s budget is expected to increase by 35%, not only bolstering its own capabilities, but also facilitating the private sector. “We expect a steady increase in ISRO budget which can help even private sector players like SOIL in the longer run,” said ICICI Securities on its outlook for 2020. A budget, which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-government-approves-10-billion-budget-for-two-of-its-space-programs/articleshow/64492363.cms">hit ₹10 billion</a> in 2018. ISRO budget has a multiplier effect on the economy where the benefits of working on rockets and satellites spill over to the private sector. Solar Industries India, for example, has invested ₹175 million in Sky Root — a start-up working to build small rockets. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="70375311" title="ISRO’s commercial operations clock in over ₹60 billion in revenue but leaves private players out of the equation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

 Companies like Walchandnagar Industries, Godrej Space and L&amp;T are already working with ISRO to manufacture rocket sub-systems. And, many more are just waiting on the sidelines to come into the fold. Shifting towards the private sector In the future, ISRO disclosed plans of moving the entire development of its Polar Satellite Vehicle Launchers (PSLVs) to the private sector. “We will be fully supporting this activity; we will invest and create this capability,” <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/isro-ready-to-support-private-rocket-launching-companies/article29331986.ece#">S Somnath</a>, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center told reporters. And, since ISRO has shown an interest in private participation — the industry has responded in kind, A Rajarajan, Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Center told <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/private-firms-keen-on-working-with-isro-for-manufacturing-rockets-official-119121601306_1.html">Business Standard</a>. This is not just for manufacturing different parts of a rocket which are then assembled at ISRO — but also for high energy material, like propellants, high explosives and others. Over the next 6 to 9 years, ISRO — along with its revamped commercial arm <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/union-budget-2019-isros-new-commerical-arm-is-new-space-india-limited/articleshow/70086097.cms">New Space India Limited</a> — has planned 15,000 launches. A big part of which involves smaller but more frequent launches of satellites using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isros-new-company-just-made-its-first-sale-to-an-american-firm-to-come-aboard-a-rocket-that-doesnt-exist-yet/articleshow/70588829.cms">SSLV</a>). <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="70086097" title="India forms a new space company to sell ISRO’s space technology products" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

 ISRO isn’t the only one looking to edge into the satellite launch market which is — expected to grow to a $30 billion by 2026. Start-ups also want a piece of the pie. Companies like Agnikul Cosmos, Skyroot, and Bellatrix are already attempting to build small rockets. The potential of the <keyword id="7803428" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Space-Activities-Bill">Space Activities Bill</keyword> Private companies can’t actually launch a satellite into space until the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-space-activities-bill-addresses-damage-in-outer-space/articleshow/69960212.cms">Space Activities Bill</a> becomes a law. The pending piece of legislation would allow India’s private sector to participate in the satellite launch market. It would regulate all ‘<a href="http://prsindia.org/sites/default/files/bill_files/Draft%20Space%20Activities%20Bill%202017.pdf">commercial space activity</a>’ — any space activity which generates or is capable of generating revenue or profit — with licenses. Since licenses act as a barrier to entry into the market, the bill has been <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-space-activities-bill-does-it-deliver-50019/">criticized</a> for not clarifying the eligibility criteria to apply for such a licence and how long it would take to process one. It is yet to be tabled in Parliament and has to be passed through both houses before it becomes a law. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isros-nsil-completes-second-successful-launch-using-pslv-rockets/articleshow/72474132.cms">ISRO's newly formed commercial arm completes second successful launch in less than a month</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-has-its-hands-full-with-13-launches-and-the-launch-of-its-new-rocket-before-march/articleshow/72253562.cms">ISRO has its 'hands full' with 13 launches and the test of its new rocket before March</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/isros-new-company-just-made-its-first-sale-to-an-american-firm-to-come-aboard-a-rocket-that-doesnt-exist-yet/articleshow/70588829.cms">ISRO’s new company just made its first sale to an American firm to come aboard a rocket that doesn’t exist yet</a>

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From launch vehicles to space tourism, Indian space start-ups aim high

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Indian space startup Agnikul may be looking outside India to launch its rockets

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Indian start-up is building a three-stage rocket that could be ready to launch by 2022

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Indian space startup fires world’s first fully 3D printed rocket engine as others play catch up

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ISRO gives a rocket building startup access to its facilities

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INTERVIEW: These former ISRO scientists are hoping for the biggest-ever funding in the Indian spacetech industry

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You might be able to take a trip to the stratosphere with a balloon by 2024

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ISRO outlook 2020: Indian private sector eyes $30 billion space launch pie

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