Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterIndia’s first private rocket launch is no longer a dream but a reality. Skyroot, started by two former ISRO engineers, is rewriting the script of the country’s space ambitions—without a formal legal nod at first. Here’s how they’re turning risk into a launchpad for a new space economy.
From ISRO to Skyroot: A Leap of Faith
Pawan Kumar Chandana, once a scientist working on India’s major rockets like the GSLV Mk III—the vehicle that propelled India’s spacecraft near the lunar south pole—quit one of the world’s most respected space agencies to start a private rocket company in India. Why leave a secure career at ISRO for a venture that was technically illegal at inception? Pawan recalls a lightning strike of inspiration: combining his engineering passion with an ambition to build a startup offering what no other Indian company had dared to.
India’s private space industry was uncharted territory in 2018, without supportive policies or investment. Yet with barely any money or connections, Pawan and his co-founder Bharat S explained the rarity of their story: going against the norm to pioneer a sector. “Building a rocket is easier when nothing else exists,” Pawan says, highlighting the challenge—and opportunity—of being first.
What Makes Skyroot Different from Giants Like SpaceX?
Unlike SpaceX’s focus on large rockets carrying hundreds or thousands of kilograms, Skyroot concentrates on “the Uber of space”—providing tailored rides for small satellites typically under 300 kilograms. This niche matters because 90% of satellites today are miniaturized, fitting into suitcases or small fridges, yet their orbital needs vary widely. Skyroot’s rockets can deliver payloads to unique orbits that massive rockets can’t serve economically.
This focus on smaller, customized launches creates a premium service where satellite companies can maximize their return from space-bound assets. Skyroot’s business model is like high-tech logistics: the satellite companies pay Skyroot space transportation fees to deliver their payloads, unlocking revenues through communications, earth observation, and more.
Why the Space Gold Rush Has Started
The explosion of satellite launches worldwide is driven by massive demand for broadband internet from space and earth observation for diverse industries. Prices of related technologies, like solar cells, plummeted from ₹200 to ₹10 per watt in 15 years, showing how tech advances and economies of scale change the playing field. Similarly, reusable rockets and new fuels like methane are cutting launch costs.
Lower launch costs, once dropping from $2,700 per kg to a few hundred, open doors for transformational new industries. Pawan points out that space-based AI data centers could harness the continuous, unfiltered solar energy available in orbit—something terrestrial data centers can’t match. This fusion of space and AI could give rise to entirely new sectors within a decade.
Deep Tech Entrepreneurship in India’s Space Economy
Pawan’s story of raising capital typifies startup grit. Without prior experience in fundraising, he educated himself via online research then reached out on LinkedIn, landing a ₹10 crore investment from M.K. Bansil within an hour of pitching. What convinced investors? The founders’ bold risk-taking amid no clear policies, no precedent, but with strong conviction that India’s space sector was about to open up.
With billions spent worldwide on private space startups and over 5,000 high-tech jobs emerging in India alone, this sector is no longer a distant dream. Pawan advises young entrepreneurs to focus on deep tech innovation beyond mere trends, emphasizing self-driven learning over formal education—he himself credits self-teaching and deep curiosity rather than classroom lectures for his growth.
Looking Beyond Rockets: The Future of Space Services
The space economy Pawan envisions extends far beyond launches. In-space services such as satellite repairs, robotic spacecraft for refueling, and removing orbital debris are critical next frontiers. New regulations will mandate debris removal within five years of a satellite’s end of life, creating fresh business opportunities.
Moreover, downstream services—like linking remote fishermen via satellite connectivity or enabling precision agriculture by detecting subtle changes in crop temperatures from orbit—illustrate how space technology is already improving livelihoods on Earth. The sky, in this case, is not the limit but a launching pad for innovation.
Skyroot’s Mission: Opening Space for All
“Space should be as accessible as the internet,” Pawan declares. Their goal: make space transportation routine, affordable, and scalable—turning India into a space-faring nation with regular satellite launches and future ambitions of human spaceflight. The challenges ahead are immense, but so is the prize: expanding human civilization beyond Earth, tapping into asteroid resources worth trillions, and safeguarding our species’ future.
Skyroot is on a journey to democratize space for all, creating a foundational industry that fuels countless unforeseen innovations on Earth and beyond. Watching pioneers like Pawan Kumar Chandana today may feel like witnessing the dawn of an era that reshapes what’s possible for India and the world.
