Dhruva Space and MAHE partner to launch ASCENT space technology centre
On 15 July 2026, Hyderabad-based space technology company Dhruva Space Private Limited entered into a strategic partnership with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) to establish a new research facility. Named the ASCENT Centre, which stands for Advanced Space Capability, Engineering & New-space Technologies, the facility will be located at the MAHE campus.
The partnership aims to bring academia and the space industry together to translate next-generation space technologies into operational applications. The collaboration will focus heavily on CubeSat missions, indigenous satellite platforms, student training, and advanced space exploration initiatives.
The ASCENT Centre has set several key milestones for the coming years. By 2028, the center envisions the development and operation of at least three 1U–6U CubeSat missions.
By 2030, the partnership plans to scale up its operations significantly. The targets for 2030 include the deployment of a swarm constellation of femto satellites and the creation of a fully operational Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Centre. The center also aims to produce indigenous bus designs, payloads, and modular satellite platforms by this time.
The long-term roadmap for the ASCENT Centre includes undertaking at least one interplanetary technology demonstration mission by 2035.
Speaking on the launch of the partnership, Dhruva Space Chief Operations Officer and Co-founder Krishna Teja Penamakuru emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. He stated that through ASCENT, they are establishing a Centre of Excellence where ideas can mature from research to mission-ready solutions in close collaboration with the industry.
MAHE Vice Chancellor Dr. Sharath K. Rao highlighted the educational impact of the new facility. He stated that university students will have the unique opportunity to work on real satellite missions, gain hands-on experience with industry-grade infrastructure, and learn by solving real engineering challenges.
