Dhruva Space: Dhruva Space to launch first commercial mission with Aussie partners

BENGALURU: Spacetech startup Dhruva Space is ready to launch its first commercial mission, LEAP-1, within the third quarter of 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The mission, a landmark for the 2012-founded Hyderabad-based firm, will host superior AI and hyperspectral imaging payloads from Australian corporations Akula Tech and Esper Satellites on Dhruva’s indigenously developed P-30 satellite tv for pc platform.The mission follows Dhruva’s profitable in-orbit qualification of its P-30 bus on Isro’s PSLV-C58 in January 2024 and marks its transition from know-how demonstration to commercial operations. LEAP-1 will combine Dhruva’s hosted payload providers with its Ground Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS) and Integrated Space Operations & Command Suite (ISOCS) for real-time mission administration and information downlinking.“This mission signifies a new era in AI-powered satellite technology to support defence, emergency response, climate monitoring and other strategic objectives,” mentioned Preetham Akula, CEO of Melbourne-based Akula Tech. The firm’s Nexus-01 payload will take a look at an onboard AI module able to real-time information processing and re-training, probably decreasing decision-making timelines for crucial missions.Esper Satellites, in the meantime, will deploy its hyperspectral imager OTR-2, aimed toward delivering detailed, spectrally-rich Earth remark information for sectors together with agriculture, mining and environmental monitoring. “Launching OTR-2 on Dhruva’s platform proves that advanced hyperspectral technology can be both accessible and cost-effective,” mentioned Shoaib Iqbal, co-founder and CEO of Esper Satellites.Dhruva Space co-founder and CEO Sanjay Nekkanti mentioned the collaboration displays the corporate’s world ambitions. “Following our successful qualification of the P-30 platform, we are excited to take this capability to the international market. Partnering with Akula and Esper creates remarkable opportunities for Indo-Australian space cooperation while driving down costs and fostering a global commercial space economy,” he mentioned.The mission additionally underscores Dhruva’s rising position in India’s personal house ecosystem, with help from ISRO and IN-SPACe. Nekkanti credited a 2022 go to by Australian Space Agency chief Enrico Palermo to Dhruva’s Hyderabad workplace for sparking the collaboration.LEAP-1 represents the first step in Dhruva Space’s sequence of hosted payload missions, which the corporate says has already drawn curiosity from personal gamers in India and Europe. “This launch is not just about deploying technology. It is about cementing India’s position as a fast-growing space power,” Nekkanti added.For Akula Tech, the mission will even present flight heritage to 5 of its AI software program merchandise, whereas Esper Satellites sees it as a stepping stone towards constructing a hyperspectral constellation. Dhruva Space, in the meantime, goals to scale its payload-hosting operations, positioning itself as a key enabler of cost-efficient, globally built-in house missions.