Indian Space Industry : Updates & Discussions
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Dhruva Space ties up with Japan’s Infostellar
The collaboration is to explore integration of the Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad into Infostellar’s StellarStation
March 31, 2025, 05:44 pm IST
HYDERABAD
The Hindu Bureau
Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space and Japan-based Infostellar on Monday (March 31, 2025) have announced a collaboration to explore integration of the Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad into Infostellar’s StellarStation, expanding its global ground station network and enhancing satellite communications interoperability.
Infostellar plans to onboard Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band antenna onto its Cloud-based StellarStation platform, making it accessible to its global client base for enhanced satellite ground segment services, upon receiving necessary licenses from the Centre, as per an official release.
Dhruva Space, a full-stack space engineering solutions company, has positioned itself to service the needs of its customers by both building and providing ground stations as a service, in collaboration with the global ecosystem.
The firm is soon to establish ~ 7.4 m antennas with S, X and Ka Band capabilities, with plans to also explore establishment of larger antennas for supporting Lunar and Deep Space Missions in collaboration with global partners in the country.
Dhruva Space is India’s only commercial ground station solutions provider offering full hemispherical coverage with high reliability through X/Y mount systems. The geographical positioning of this 3.8m S- and X-band antenna in Hyderabad enhances its capability to support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in inclined planes, optimizing coverage and data downlink opportunities for mission-critical satellite operations.
India and Japan have already collaborated on missions like Chandrayaan series of lunar missions, the Sentinel Asia initiative and the upcoming LUPEX lunar endeavour. “Infostellar is excited to have signed this agreement with Dhruva Space, marking an important milestone in commercial Japan-India Space relationships. I am delighted to be able to make Dhruva Space’s antenna available to global satellite and spacecraft operators through StellarStation, Infostellar’s unique Cloud-based platform.” said CEO Naomi Kurahara.
Dhruva Space CEO Sanjay Nekkanti said: “This collaboration enhances our vertical integration strategy, allowing us to offer end-to-end satellite solutions, from space to ground, for global satellite operators.” This partnership was officially established in Tokyo, Japan, during the Third India-Japan Space Dialogue, jointly organized by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Cabinet Office of Japan.
Infostellar, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading provider of Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) solutions, specializing in GSaaS, satellite antenna hosting and dedicated satellite antenna services in the Asia-Pacific region, the release added.
Dhruva Space ties up with Japan’s Infostellar
The collaboration is to explore integration of the Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad into Infostellar’s StellarStation
March 31, 2025, 05:44 pm IST
HYDERABAD
The Hindu Bureau
Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space and Japan-based Infostellar on Monday (March 31, 2025) have announced a collaboration to explore integration of the Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band ground station antenna in Hyderabad into Infostellar’s StellarStation, expanding its global ground station network and enhancing satellite communications interoperability.
Infostellar plans to onboard Dhruva Space’s 3.8m S&X-band antenna onto its Cloud-based StellarStation platform, making it accessible to its global client base for enhanced satellite ground segment services, upon receiving necessary licenses from the Centre, as per an official release.
Dhruva Space, a full-stack space engineering solutions company, has positioned itself to service the needs of its customers by both building and providing ground stations as a service, in collaboration with the global ecosystem.
Dhruva to explore establishments of large antennas
The firm is soon to establish ~ 7.4 m antennas with S, X and Ka Band capabilities, with plans to also explore establishment of larger antennas for supporting Lunar and Deep Space Missions in collaboration with global partners in the country.
India’s only commercial ground station solutions provide
Dhruva Space is India’s only commercial ground station solutions provider offering full hemispherical coverage with high reliability through X/Y mount systems. The geographical positioning of this 3.8m S- and X-band antenna in Hyderabad enhances its capability to support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in inclined planes, optimizing coverage and data downlink opportunities for mission-critical satellite operations.
India and Japan’s collaborations
India and Japan have already collaborated on missions like Chandrayaan series of lunar missions, the Sentinel Asia initiative and the upcoming LUPEX lunar endeavour. “Infostellar is excited to have signed this agreement with Dhruva Space, marking an important milestone in commercial Japan-India Space relationships. I am delighted to be able to make Dhruva Space’s antenna available to global satellite and spacecraft operators through StellarStation, Infostellar’s unique Cloud-based platform.” said CEO Naomi Kurahara.
Dhruva Space CEO Sanjay Nekkanti said: “This collaboration enhances our vertical integration strategy, allowing us to offer end-to-end satellite solutions, from space to ground, for global satellite operators.” This partnership was officially established in Tokyo, Japan, during the Third India-Japan Space Dialogue, jointly organized by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Cabinet Office of Japan.
Infostellar, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading provider of Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) solutions, specializing in GSaaS, satellite antenna hosting and dedicated satellite antenna services in the Asia-Pacific region, the release added.
Dhruva Space ties up with Japan’s Infostellar
Indian propulsion maker joins US expansion push
by Jason Rainbow
April 10, 2025
Rohan M Ganapathy, left, Bellatrix Aerospace’s co-founder and CEO, stands with Yashas Karanam, co-founder and chief operating officer. Credit: Bellatrix Aerospace.
TAMPA, Fla. — Indian satellite propulsion maker Bellatrix Aerospace announced plans April 10 to open a manufacturing facility in the United States in the coming months, joining a wave of foreign firms seeking a slice of the country’s vast space market.
Bellatrix hired Chris MacDonald, a former business development director at rocket developer Astra and satellite provider Terran Orbital, to lead its recently created U.S. subsidiary, headquartered in Delaware.
The manufacturing facility would support localized production, testing and delivery of propulsion systems to enable faster turnaround times and closer collaboration with U.S.-based customers, MacDonald said via email.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix’s electric hall effect thruster has been used in a handful of missions for India’s space agency in recent years, along with a propulsion system that uses a less toxic alternative to hydrazine.
With technologies now proven on home turf, the company is turning its attention to international opportunities — particularly in the United States, where demand for space infrastructure continues to draw significant private investment.
According to research published April 9 by venture capital firm Space Capital, the U.S. attracted 72% of global investments in space infrastructure over the past three years.
In the first three months of 2025, U.S. companies accounted for the majority of the $1.7 billion invested in space infrastructure, referring to the hardware and software used to build, launch and operate satellites, rockets and other space-bound assets.
That marked a 31% drop from the previous quarter and the second-lowest quarterly total Space Capital has recorded over the past three years amid macroeconomic uncertainty and tightening financial conditions.
Bellatrix Aerospace's 50W Arka electric thruster.
Still, the report pointed to continued demand for propulsion, satellite manufacturing and launch services, particularly from defense-focused players aiming to seize opportunities created by the U.S. administration’s renewed emphasis on space as a national security priority.
International expansion
“We’re currently in advanced discussions with over six U.S.-based satellite manufacturers and operators, with several others in early-stage talks,” MacDonald said.
“We’ve also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a prominent U.S. satellite manufacturer to serve as their preferred propulsion partner. These partnerships are paving the way for a strong U.S. presence and product adoption.”
Bellatrix currently employs more than 90 people in India and expects to expand its team to around 115 by the end of the year to support increasing global demand and product development, including as many as six U.S.-based employees.
British satellite component maker Olsen announced similar expansion plans earlier this week targeting Florida, while GITAI, a space robotics specialist headquartered in California but majority-owned from Japan, recently set up a subsidiary under a U.S. voting trust to chase prime contractor roles in defense contracts.
Indian propulsion maker joins US expansion push
by Jason Rainbow
April 10, 2025
Rohan M Ganapathy, left, Bellatrix Aerospace’s co-founder and CEO, stands with Yashas Karanam, co-founder and chief operating officer. Credit: Bellatrix Aerospace.
TAMPA, Fla. — Indian satellite propulsion maker Bellatrix Aerospace announced plans April 10 to open a manufacturing facility in the United States in the coming months, joining a wave of foreign firms seeking a slice of the country’s vast space market.
Bellatrix hired Chris MacDonald, a former business development director at rocket developer Astra and satellite provider Terran Orbital, to lead its recently created U.S. subsidiary, headquartered in Delaware.
The manufacturing facility would support localized production, testing and delivery of propulsion systems to enable faster turnaround times and closer collaboration with U.S.-based customers, MacDonald said via email.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix’s electric hall effect thruster has been used in a handful of missions for India’s space agency in recent years, along with a propulsion system that uses a less toxic alternative to hydrazine.
With technologies now proven on home turf, the company is turning its attention to international opportunities — particularly in the United States, where demand for space infrastructure continues to draw significant private investment.
According to research published April 9 by venture capital firm Space Capital, the U.S. attracted 72% of global investments in space infrastructure over the past three years.
In the first three months of 2025, U.S. companies accounted for the majority of the $1.7 billion invested in space infrastructure, referring to the hardware and software used to build, launch and operate satellites, rockets and other space-bound assets.
That marked a 31% drop from the previous quarter and the second-lowest quarterly total Space Capital has recorded over the past three years amid macroeconomic uncertainty and tightening financial conditions.
Bellatrix Aerospace's 50W Arka electric thruster.
Still, the report pointed to continued demand for propulsion, satellite manufacturing and launch services, particularly from defense-focused players aiming to seize opportunities created by the U.S. administration’s renewed emphasis on space as a national security priority.
International expansion
“We’re currently in advanced discussions with over six U.S.-based satellite manufacturers and operators, with several others in early-stage talks,” MacDonald said.
“We’ve also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a prominent U.S. satellite manufacturer to serve as their preferred propulsion partner. These partnerships are paving the way for a strong U.S. presence and product adoption.”
Bellatrix currently employs more than 90 people in India and expects to expand its team to around 115 by the end of the year to support increasing global demand and product development, including as many as six U.S.-based employees.
British satellite component maker Olsen announced similar expansion plans earlier this week targeting Florida, while GITAI, a space robotics specialist headquartered in California but majority-owned from Japan, recently set up a subsidiary under a U.S. voting trust to chase prime contractor roles in defense contracts.
Indian propulsion maker joins US expansion push
Indian space startup "EtherealX" is building a fully re-usable medium lift rocket. They are getting funded from Indo-US technology fund (INDUS-X):
The Stallion engine shown above will be a "closed gas generator cycle". I am not sure what that means. Gas generator cycles by their very nature are open cycles. As in fuel & oxidizer is used to turn the main turbopump & feed the combustion chamber. The propellant used in running the turbopump is dumped overboard. Since we are losing this propellant, it is called an open cycle. A closed gas generator cycle is called an expander cycle. Why not just call it that? We will have to wait for more updates on this.
Anyway, the Stallion is their lower stage engine. Thus, it is more powerful & more challenging. They are starting off their engine development with the smaller upper stage engine called "Pegasus".
They have 3D printed a prototype of the Thrust Chamber Assembly (TCA) of the "Pegasus" upper stage semi-cryogenic engine:
The spaces of the engine are as follows:
Propellant: RP-1/LOX
Thrust: 40 kN (sea level)
Isp: 293 sec (sea level)
Cooling: Regenerative
The engine feed cycle is rather interesting. The company describes it as "A proprietary, all-new, indigenously developed rocket engine feed cycle: the Full Flow Segregated Cooling Cycle (FSCC)". But also says this TCA is the "The world’s first RP-1/LOX engine TCA that can also run on an expander cycle".
It seems to me that this FSCC is a modified variant of the dual expander cycle. If it is genuinely an all-new engine cycle, this would be the 1st by any Indian organization/company. We will have to wait & see on that front.
They are getting ready to test the Pegasus TCA:
Video if the Pegasus TCA test rig:
View attachment EtherealX_Pegasus_test_rig.mp4
It going to be very very tough, but I hope they can make this work. Can you imagine having reusable rocket with payload similar to the LVM3. It will be a game changer for our military & civilian needs.
The Stallion engine shown above will be a "closed gas generator cycle". I am not sure what that means. Gas generator cycles by their very nature are open cycles. As in fuel & oxidizer is used to turn the main turbopump & feed the combustion chamber. The propellant used in running the turbopump is dumped overboard. Since we are losing this propellant, it is called an open cycle. A closed gas generator cycle is called an expander cycle. Why not just call it that? We will have to wait for more updates on this.
Anyway, the Stallion is their lower stage engine. Thus, it is more powerful & more challenging. They are starting off their engine development with the smaller upper stage engine called "Pegasus".
They have 3D printed a prototype of the Thrust Chamber Assembly (TCA) of the "Pegasus" upper stage semi-cryogenic engine:
The spaces of the engine are as follows:
Propellant: RP-1/LOX
Thrust: 40 kN (sea level)
Isp: 293 sec (sea level)
Cooling: Regenerative
The engine feed cycle is rather interesting. The company describes it as "A proprietary, all-new, indigenously developed rocket engine feed cycle: the Full Flow Segregated Cooling Cycle (FSCC)". But also says this TCA is the "The world’s first RP-1/LOX engine TCA that can also run on an expander cycle".
It seems to me that this FSCC is a modified variant of the dual expander cycle. If it is genuinely an all-new engine cycle, this would be the 1st by any Indian organization/company. We will have to wait & see on that front.
They are getting ready to test the Pegasus TCA:
Video if the Pegasus TCA test rig:
View attachment EtherealX_Pegasus_test_rig.mp4
It going to be very very tough, but I hope they can make this work. Can you imagine having reusable rocket with payload similar to the LVM3. It will be a game changer for our military & civilian needs.
