Startups to drive India's quest for a chunk of small satellite launch pie

Frugal innovations by the Indian startup community are bringing down the cost of launching small satellites into space

A space-faring nation for over five decades now, India is set to become the hub for the small satellite launch market, which is projected to be valued at about $38 billion by 2027. Startups will be the key drivers in this space, with a few among them on the final stages of developing low-cost solutions that conform to global standards.

The recent reforms by the Centre will further accelerate private sector participation in the sector. Market researchers estimate that 190 small satellites have been launched globally over the past five years. This number is projected to leapfrog to about 7,000