IN-SPACe selects Dhruva Space, Astrome, Azista to develop satellite bus platform

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has made a significant move in advancing the country’s satellite manufacturing capabilities by partnering with three innovative companies: Dhruva Space, Astrome Technologies, and Azista Industries. These firms have been selected to create indigenous small satellite bus platforms as part of the Satellite Bus as a Service (SBaaS) initiative. Each of the selected companies will receive a financial grant of Rs 5 crore, aimed at facilitating the development and demonstration of a modular and scalable satellite bus designed to support various payloads. The SBaaS initiative was launched in April 2025, inviting proposals from Indian Non-Governmental Entities, and by July 2025, IN-SPACe had received a total of fifteen proposals. Following a rigorous multi-stage evaluation, three companies emerged as finalists, and contracts were officially signed on February 11, marking the commencement of this ambitious project. Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "The Satellite Bus as a Service initiative marks an important step in building a robust, sustainable, and globally competitive small satellite manufacturing ecosystem in India." He further noted that this initiative would position India as a preferred global hub for comprehensive small satellite manufacturing, launch services, and payload hosting, thereby enhancing both domestic and international market opportunities. The platforms created under the SBaaS program are expected to offer standardized, cost-effective solutions for customers worldwide seeking hosted payload services. In addition to the financial support, the chosen companies will gain access to essential infrastructure, testing facilities, and technical expertise from the Department of Space and ISRO as needed. Recently, IN-SPACe also entered into a concession agreement with Pixxel and Allied Orbits, aiming to create an Earth Observation constellation through a public-private partnership framework.