Dhruva Space is an India-based space technology startup focused on building full-stack space engineering solutions.
In this article we discuss their growth over the last 12 months, look ahead to the company’s plans and ambitions in 2024, and share further information about their portfolio.
Contents
- Dhruva Space’s growth in 2023
- Dhruva Space’s ambitions for 2024
- Insights from the supply chain
- Dhruva Space’s portfolio
- Further reading
Dhruva Space’s growth in 2023
We asked Dhruva Space what the company’s biggest wins in 2023 were. Dhruva Space CEO, Sanjay Nekkanti, provided the following:
It has been a very encouraging year and our team has doubled in number which is very exciting, from 40 people to nearly 80!
In April 2023, onboard ISRO’s PSLV-C55, we completed our third space mission in less than 12 months since receiving authorisation from IN-SPACe, the regulatory authority of India for private space activity.
This means we have space-qualified three classes of our Satellite Deployers, our P-DoT cubesat platform through the Thybolt Mission, and our Orbital Link transceiver, paving the way for more missions.
On the partnerships front, we also announced two key partnerships which will be crucial to our growth. Our partnership with Kinéis will come to fruition in a joint satellite mission for IoT applications. Our partnership with Comat is for the supply of their reaction wheels and SADM, and our Spacecraft Solar Arrays.
In October, during World Space Week, Dhruva Space also unveiled the grand plans of our upcoming 280,000 square-foot facility for spacecraft manufacturing. With World Space Week’s theme being ‘Space Entrepreneurship’, this unveiling was done at a reception dinner hosted for the 27 French space companies that visited India. So it was just right that we showcase Dhruva Space’s capability of offering distinct space missions for diverse payloads.
To meet the increasing commercial opportunities for mass production of space systems (satellite subsystems, satellite platforms, ground terminals), the Design, Engineering, Assembly, Integration and Testing facility – located very close to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad – will be a critical strategic turning point for growth and resilience. The facility will be integral for us to realize our full potential as a full-stack space company.
We were also recognized by the Government of India with the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Skill Excellence Award 2022, for our work in satellite communications.
This is our second Government-award accolade after the National Startup Award in 2020 for our work in Space and Satellite Technology. We were also awarded the ‘Best Startup – Silver’ at the Telangana State Industry Awards, highlighting the potential of Hyderabad as a hub for space startups.
Dhruva Space’s ambitions for 2024
Abhay Egoor, Chief Technology Officer at Dhruva Space, shared the company’s strategic aims and ambitions for this year:
Dhruva Space has an order book of missions till 2025 for our nanosatellite (P30 platform) and microsatellite (P90 platform). Dhruva Space will be realizing its LEAP (Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Payloads) initiative ahead in the coming missions with one of our flagship platforms which we call the P30.
The P30 platform is a 30-kilogram nanosatellite for which we have designed and developed various subsystems, including Spacecraft Solar Arrays, the platform structure, power systems, onboard controllers, radio frequency link, and attitude determination and control systems (ADCS).
We plan to use the P30 for a mission, slated for early 2024, with an Australian company aiming to validate its imaging camera payload, marking our first international mission.
UPDATE: Dhruva Space reported success of the P30 platform’s qualification, in the LEAP initiative, in January 2024.
Insights from the supply chain
Some further thoughts from Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO of Dhruva Space, on the future of the company and the wider industry:
Innovation, inclusivity, capacity building, and broader collaboration are the touchstones of the New Space economy today.
So, I encourage all space industry professionals, no matter your vertical of work, to build strong relationships across the spectrum.
The ecosystem is forging ahead with a lot of innovation and collaboration, so be sure to be on the pulse of space business.
Dhruva Space has nurtured and followed through on a variety of partnerships that build upon our full-stack offerings across the building, launching and operations of satellites, to diversify our missions and projects portfolios.
Dhruva Space’s portfolio
This section includes a variety of Dhruva Space’s products available on the global market today. Click on the links to open pages with more detail on each system.
You can then make requests for quotes, documents, or further information, and we’ll handle these for you (find out more about how this simple process works on this page). You can also submit an open tender here and our expert procurement team will get back to you ASAP.
Solis+ is a family of Space-grade Solar Arrays meticulously built using high-efficiency (>30%) Triple Junction GaAs Solar Cells to maximise power generation while optimizing both the mass and space considerations. These solar arrays are precision-engineered and manufactured by Dhruva Space to operate in the demanding conditions of space, offering customized power capacities of up to a few kW, with multiple bus configurations that are suitable for larger classes of satellites and spacecraft.
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Solis is a family of Spacecraft Solar Arrays by full-stack Space engineering solutions company Dhruva Space built using high-efficiency (>30%) Triple-Junction GaAs Solar Cells to maximise power generation. These solar arrays are specifically engineered and manufactured by Dhruva Space to operate in the Space environment, providing a reliable source of electrical power for various types of satellites and spacecraft.
The Dhruva Space BOLT is a hybrid connectivity module designed for satellite applications. It consists of a built-in processor capable of handling massive computation processes. The BOLT can also switch between mobile networks (4G/5G) with fallback connectivity to Dhruva Space's satellite network for continuous network coverage. This also takes into account the transmission distance and frequency, power consumption, and interoperability.
The Dhruva Space CubeSat Deployers DSOD - 12U is designed for space applications. It consists of Non-Pyrotechnic Hold Down and Release Mechanism (HDRM) and has Multiple CubeSat configurations. The deployer also consists of onboard telemetry sensors included for deployment confirmation and ejection velocity measurement. Its design is reconfigurable to accommodate hosted payload.
The Dhruva Space CubeSat Deployers DSOD - 16U is designed to deploy CubeSat in the earth's orbit. The product consists of onboard telemetry sensors included for deployment confirmation and ejection velocity measurement. It also consists of Non-Pyrotechnic Hold Down and Release Mechanism (HDRM) and has Multiple CubeSat configurations. The deployer's design is reconfigurable to accommodate hosted payload.
Dhruva Space designs and develops satellite deployers, thus enabling rapid satellite deployment for multiple platform sizes and from various launch vehicle providers. The CubeSat deployer range of Dhruva Space includes 1U, 3U, 6U, and 12U form factors in multiple configurations to suit the varied launch requirements.
Dhruva Space designs and develops satellite deployers, thus enabling rapid satellite deployment for multiple platform sizes and from various launch vehicle providers. The CubeSat deployer range of Dhruva Space includes 1U, 3U, 6U, and 12U form factors in multiple configurations to suit the varied launch requirements.
The Dhruva Space CUBESAT P-DoT is a CubeSat platform designed for space applications. It is a scalable 0.5U Platform designed to enable small satellite technology demonstrations as well as low-power M2M and IoT missions. The platform is optimized for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions and consists of a UHF transceiver.
The Dhruva Space Integrated Space Operations and Command Suite (ISOCS) is designed to control and operate processes for space applications. It enables virtual and remote operations including telemetry downlink, telecommand uplink, and real-time satellite health monitoring. The suite consists of three main segmentations - Space Operations, Mission Control, and Space Situational Awareness. It also has the capability to interface with a global network of partner ground stations.
The Dhruva Space S-Band, X-Band Ground Station solutions are designed for both satellite and ground station operators. The S and X Band stations are equipped with high-gain antennas and Software Defined Radios (SDRs) capable of communicating with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites. It is offered both as a stand-alone product and as a service with a global network of partner ground stations.
The Dhruva Space VHF-Band, UHF-Band Ground Station is designed for satellite and ground applications. The stations are equipped with high-gain antennas and Software Defined Radios (SDRs) capable of communicating with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites. It can be used both as a stand-alone product and as a service with a global network of partner ground stations. The product specifications are customizable upon request.
The Dhruva Space P90 is a satellite bus with a platform mass up to 300 kg suitable for commercial, defence and scientific mission in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The Dhruva Space Nanosat P30 is a satellite bus with a platform mass of 10-30 kg suitable for commercial, defence and scientific mission in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The Dhruva Space Link is an end-to-end satellite constellation solution to establish full-fledged M2M communication capabilities between Space and Ground terminals. Link is designed to offer compact, low-power, rapid and affordable solution. It consists of P-DOT 0.5U CubeSat platform, DSOD low-shock deployers and VHF/UHF ground stations.
Further reading
The links below will take you to other satsearch resources where you can learn more about some of the topics mentioned on this page:
- Satellite software solutions on the global market
- Microsatellite and CubeSat platforms from the international supply chain
- Smallsat and CubeSat solar panels on the global market
- A brief introduction to the space supply chain
- How satsearch helps space companies grow
- Procurement advice from space industry experts