Hyderabad Space Startups Begin Analyzing Data From Vikram 1 Rocket
Hyderabad-based space start-ups Cosmo serve Space and Grahaa Space have begun receiving and analyzing in-orbit data from their payloads launched aboard Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket on Saturday. The successful data reception marks a significant milestone for the private space ecosystem in Telangana, validating key technologies developed by the local firms.
Cosmo serve Space, founded in 2025, participated in its first rocket mission with "Mission Embrace." The payload is designed to demonstrate the world's first in-orbit soft robotic capture mechanism.
According to Dr. Chiranjeevi Phanindra, founder and chief executive officer of Cosmo serve Space, the company has successfully started interpreting the incoming data. He noted that the company has multiple technology demonstrations planned as part of its future roadmap.
At the core of Mission Embrace is a compliant soft robotic capture technology. This system is designed to gently capture unprepared and non-cooperative objects in orbit, such as defunct satellites. The mission aims to validate this technology in space for the first time, establishing a foundation for future orbital debris removal missions.
Meanwhile, Grahaa Space successfully deployed its technology demonstration nanosatellite, SOLARAS, aboard the Vikram-1 launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The deployment is part of "Mission SIDDHI," which aims to develop indigenous, stackable nanosatellite platforms for low-Earth orbit.
Ramesh Kumar V, co-founder of Grahaa Space, congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on its maiden mission and expressed delight over the launch success.
The SOLARAS satellite is designed to validate Grahaa Space's stackable nanosatellite platform, communication systems, and hosted payload architecture. Additionally, the mission carries VISWA-M, an academic research payload developed by VIT-AP University, to demonstrate the platform's capacity to support research and technology missions.
Following its deployment, the Grahaa Space satellite will undergo commissioning and in-orbit evaluation. The company stated that insights gained from this mission will help accelerate its long-term goal of providing near-real-time geospatial video data for various civilian and commercial applications.
