Skyroot and beyond: India's space startups aim high

While rocket launches grab headlines, private firms are working in tandem with Isro to do everything from earth imaging to space weather monitoring

- Chethan Kumar

India is unlikely to produce an Elon Musk or a Jeff Bezos any time soon, but the domestic space sector has grown to display some promise in recent months. On Friday, Skyroot Aerospace's sub-orbital mission, 'Prarambh', marked the beginning of private launch activity albeit on a micro scale. As Isro chairman S Somanath says, the launch of (Skyroot's) Vikram-S, a small, single-stage rocket, will "demonstrate that young people with a dream to build something big can actually do so in India".

While Skyroot is the first, there are already other private companies gearing up for missions, not just from the rocket side, but also satellites and applications. Ramesh Nagasamudram, vice-president, Aniara SpaceCom, a consultancy that specialises in satellite services, believes the space sector is poised for growth like the IT sector. "One welcome change has been Isro's support. Isro is walking the talk with a visible willingness to listen and encourage as well as extend its infrastructure resources. Also, startups are more industry and revenue focused, addressing global markets," he says.