AnduraX to conduct India’s first high-altitude drop test for reusable spaceplane

AnduraX, an innovative space startup from Andhra Pradesh, is gearing up to perform a groundbreaking high-altitude drop test for a reusable spaceplane, marking a significant milestone for India's aerospace ambitions. This ambitious endeavor, named ADM-01 (ARES Drop Mission 1), is slated for the first week of June and is a crucial step toward the company’s goal of launching an orbital re-entry mission by 2028. The test will involve elevating an experimental vehicle to a staggering altitude of 25,000 meters using a high-altitude balloon before its release into near-stratospheric conditions. This critical experiment aims to gather essential flight data, which will aid AnduraX in refining its guidance, navigation, and control systems, as well as enhancing the precision landing capabilities of its reusable re-entry vehicle known as ARES. Sree Supranayi, the co-founder and CEO of AnduraX, emphasized the company’s vision, stating, "At AnduraX, we are building reusable reentry systems to make microgravity research and in-space manufacturing more accessible, faster, and practical." The company aspires to develop a vehicle capable of transporting payloads to orbit, facilitating microgravity research, and ensuring safe returns through low-G re-entries and runway-style landings. Notably, ARES is designed to accommodate payloads of up to 100 kg. AnduraX is currently part of the second cohort of KickSky Space Lab, a space accelerator supported by Riceberg Ventures, E2MC Ventures, and Aniara Space. This development aligns with India's growing emphasis on space exploration and biomanufacturing, as the nation also aims to launch the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028.