Nagpur startup developing reusable satellite launch vehicle

Nagpur: A start-up by an entrepreneur, who fled the war in Ukraine and began operations in a 10,000 square foot workshop at Hingna with a six-man team, claims to have come up with India's first privately built, reusable satellite launch vehicle. It takes off vertically and can land horizontally, making it fit to use for up to five space missions, claims the company.The no-frills space tech venture also makes it the cheapest launch vehicle available for a price of $3,000 per km, as against the global cost of $10,000, it claims. Taking part in the govt's Space Start-up Mahakumbh from April 2 to 5, the company, Spaceverse Technologies, is now developing a full-scale model and is already in talks with private satellite operators for a tie-up.The launch vehicle takes off vertically and glides back horizontally like an aircraft, making it partially reusable, says Spaceverse founder director Rajesh Muneshwar. He says the first version is expected to be ready in 12 months. During the development stage, the launch vehicle manufacturers also engaged with satellite operators for a business tie-up. Spaceverse is wooing international players too, he said.Before shifting to Nagpur, work on the launch vehicle began in 2012. The preliminary design was ready in 2014, and two years later, it was displayed in Paris, he says. At that time, the work was going on in Ukraine, but the war made him shift the operations to India. By that time, a scaled-down prototype was ready, and now work is on to make the first version of the satellite launch vehicle, he said.Once ready, Spaceverse is aiming for 20 launches per year. It would also be talking to ISRO for sharing its facilities. The launch vehicle can go up to 300 to 500km and will be eyeing typically private agencies for business tie-ups, he said. Munishwar said the company, which has raised around half a million dollars in funding, is now looking for further rounds to raise money.