Space Startup

Japan's Astroscale to tie up with India's Digantara, Bellatrix Aerospace

The tie-ups will "hopefully" result in an orbital services bid for Indian clients "in one to two years", which would mark Astroscale's first operations in Asia-Pacific outside its home

Sidbi VC to manage Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for space sector

SIDBI Venture Capital Limited has been selected as the fund manager for Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund announced by the government to support private sector firms in the space technology domain. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) made the announcement in this regard on Friday. "M/s SIDBI Venture Capital Limited is selected as the Fund Manager / Investment Manager for the Rs 1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund for the Indian Space Sector," the IN-SPACe said in a statement. The fund will deploy the amount earmarked for it over a period of five years, with a planned deployment of Rs 150 crore in the 2025-26 financial year followed by Rs 250 crore each in the next three financial years and Rs 100 crore in 202930. "The indicative range of investment is proposed to be Rs 10 crore-Rs 60 crore, contingent upon the stage of the company, its growth trajectory and its potential impact on national space capabilities," the government said in an ...

AstroForge: Earth's first asteroid mining prospector heads to launchpad

That may sound familiar: A decade ago, news stories were aflutter about the wealth promised by asteroid mining companies. But things didn't quite work out

GalaxEye achieves breakthrough with first fusion of SAR and optical imagery

This first-of-its-kind integration of SAR and optical imagery addresses critical needs across sectors, including defence, agriculture, and disaster response

Blue Origin reaches orbit in first New Glenn launch, misses booster landing

Thirty stories tall with a reusable first stage filled with liquid oxygen and methane, New Glenn launched around 2 am ET (0700 GMT) from Blue Origin's launchpad under cloudy skies

Spacetech startup OrbitAID raises $1.5 million in pre-seed funding round

OrbitAID plans to use the funds to conduct an in-space demonstration of docking and refuelling operations, expand facilities for on-orbit servicing operations

Pixxel launches highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites

Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel announced the launch of three of the world's highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday. The Firefly constellation satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and launched aboard the Transporter-12 rideshare mission with SpaceX. The launch took place around 1 am. Pixxel organised a livescreening of the launch at its headquarters in Bengaluru. With the launch of the first three satellites, Pixxel will now be able to deliver more precise critical climate and Earth insights, said founder and CEO Awais Ahmed. Ahmed was addressing reporters on the sidelines of the screening. He said the Firefly constellation was six times sharper than the 30-metre standard of most existing hyperspectral satellites, capturing fine details previously invisible to conventional systems. The Firefly also marks a watershed moment in India's space journey as the nation's first commercial satellite ...

Demerger boosts Rossell Techsys' defence, space ambitions: MD Rishab Gupta

Rossell Techsys MD Rishab Gupta discusses the firm's demerger from Rossell India and its entry into the space sector, highlighting a Rs 2,800 crore order book and a focus on defence and civil aviation

Toyota backs Japanese space startup Interstellar to mass-produce rockets

As part of the capital and business tie-up, Woven will appoint a director to IST's board and support rocket production by strengthening supply chains and corporate governance, IST said

India's space sector funding drops 55% in 2024 amid global downturn

The government has sought to stimulate the sector by approving a 10 billion rupee ($119 million) fund in October 2024 to support space startups and setting plans to expand India's share

Big rockets, a big telescope and big changes in space await in 2025

The space firm founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos has a powerful rocket called New Glenn that may at last get off the ground in 2025

Indian startup OrbitAID's patented tech clears zero gravity test in Florida

It validates SIDRP's capabilities for on-orbit satellite servicing, including docking, refuelling, and proximity operations, in simulated space conditions

How Indian startups are charting new course in downstream space sector

Downstream sector uses space data for practical applications; is projected to be worth $610 bn by 2031

Cabinet nod for Rs 1K crore venture capital fund for space sector startups

The move is expected to accelerate the growth of the private space sector in India, driving advancements in space technology

Space startups see funding rise as investors bet on capex ventures: Report

Funding in the third quarter was up 18 per cent from a year earlier at $1.9 billion, with an average deal size of $18 million, according to the report

Pixxel becomes first Indian space startup to grab order from Nasa

Pixxel becomes part of the Nasa's $476 million Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program

Private space startups gain from Isro's support, but face significant risks

While Isro is deservedly lauded for its cost-effectiveness, there is excessive focus on achievements such as developing moon launch vehicle for $70 mn, when nations like US spend a billion on project

Algo Rhythm: Space technology startups soar high, says Tracxn report

In 2024, space tech startups have raised $10.8 million yet

Union Budget 2024: R&D, spacetech fund gives deeptech startups a boost

The govt is working on National Deep Tech Start-up Policy as part of its efforts to spur innovation in India's deeptech sector. The policy attempts to address the vital barriers facing the industry

Budget 2024 sets up Rs 1,000 cr venture capital fund for space economy

Industry welcomes proposal to expand space economy five-fold in 10 years through private sector participation