What if launching a satellite became as easy as booking a cab? Working towards this vision, Immanuel Louis and Suyash Bafna from Astrophel Aerospace share how their startup is building a reusable small satellite launch vehicle to democratise access to space with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey.
Q. How will Astrophel Aerospace democratise space access with reusable launch technology?
A. Astrophel Aerospace aims to reduce costs and democratise access to space, enabling even small towns or independent entities to launch satellites. These satellites, for instance, can monitor crops or conduct earth observation. The idea is to make space not just for big players but for everyone. We are currently developing a reusable launch vehicle and have successfully raised our pre-seed round to support our research and development (R&D) efforts.
Q. What exactly is the product you are developing?
A. Our primary product is a small satellite launch vehicle that allows private satellite companies to put their payloads into space. Earlier in India, only government bodies, such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), were allowed to do this. But with the new space policy introduced in 2022, private players like us now have the opportunity to participate. We aim to become the go-to provider for private satellite launches, serving clients across various sectors, including defence, agriculture, disaster management, and climate monitoring. We are working on commercialising our in-house cryogenic valves through a strategic partnership with Meson Valves, a well-established player in the industrial valve space. This collaboration enables us to introduce high-performance, space-grade technology to broader markets, while also generating early revenue.
Q. Who are your target customers?
A. Our target customers include satellite companies from sectors like defence, climate monitoring, disaster management, and agriculture. These are entities that require sending small satellites into space for data analytics, mapping, or observation purposes. We also cater to the cryogenic, avionics, and propulsion industries through our subcomponent products, which expand our customer base beyond just satellite operators.
Q. Are you offering your product as a subscription or a one-time service?
A. It is a service-based model where customers pay per launch. You can think of it like booking a ride on Uber. Clients pay based on the size and mass of their satellite, and we provide the launch service accordingly.
Q. Is your product already available in the market?
A. The entire launch vehicle is still in the R&D phase and is expected to reach the market within the next one to two years. However, some of the subcomponents we have developed are already being explored for commercialisation to generate early revenue.
Q. How are you generating revenue?
A. We are a pre-revenue company, which is typical in deep-tech sectors like aerospace, where development timelines can stretch to seven to ten years. We are focused on developing valuable intellectual properties (IPs) and subcomponents that can be commercialised earlier. Strategic partnerships, such as one we are exploring with Mason Valves, are also being considered to build early revenue streams.
Q. Do you manufacture everything in-house?
A. We do not manufacture everything in-house. Around 70% of our components are developed internally, especially when it makes economic sense and can be commercialised in other markets, such as cryogenics. The remaining 30% we procure from trusted vendors due to capital investment constraints and availability issues.
Q. Where is your facility located, and how big is your team?
A. We are based in Pune with an approximately 465–557 square metre (5000–6000 square feet) facility. The team currently comprises approximately 18 people, including full-time staff, consultants, and interns.
Q. Do you have any patents?
A. We have filed several provisional patents for various subcomponents like valves, pumps, and turbo machinery. We are also planning to apply for international patents to ensure broader protection and recognition. Additionally, we are publishing research articles under the Astrophel name to contribute to the academic and industrial ecosystem.
Q. What challenges have you faced as a startup?
A. One of the biggest challenges has been finding the right kind of investors who understand and are willing to support deep tech with what we call ‘patience capital.’ Another challenge is hiring talent, especially from a sector dominated by government jobs, such as ISRO. It took time and convincing to bring passionate people on board. Additionally, we face vendor-related challenges because most manufacturers in India are volume-focused and hesitant to take low-quantity, R&D-driven orders, which is not ideal for prototyping.
Q. What will be your pricing model for satellite launch services?
A. Our pricing will be based on the payload mass. We plan to charge between $10,000 and $15,000 per kilogram. If a customer books the whole vehicle for a 250–300 kg satellite, the cost will be on the lower end, around $11,000 per kg. If it involves a shared mission with smaller satellites, the price could increase to $15,000 per kilogram. The idea is to offer customised, cost-effective solutions compared to larger providers.
Q. Do you offer training or internships?
A. Yes, we offer paid internships, especially for long-term candidates who may transition to full-time roles. While we do not have formal training programmes, we welcome students and researchers to collaborate with us. We are also engaging with colleges in Pune to create opportunities for students to work with us and gain hands-on experience.
Q. Are you looking for vendors or partners to grow your business?
A. Absolutely. We are continually seeking vendors who are open to R&D partnerships, rather than just volume manufacturing. India needs more such vendors to make in-house development viable for startups like us. We invite such partners to collaborate and support innovation.
Q. Do you have any future plans beyond the current product?
A. Yes, apart from completing our reusable launch vehicle, we plan to continue developing subcomponents that can be commercialised individually. This strategy helps build a stronger aerospace ecosystem in India and positions us as a component supplier, in addition to being a launch provider.
