EtherealX, a burgeoning space venture based out of India, has successfully garnered $5 million in seed capital to forge ahead with its ambition of developing entirely reusable medium-lift launchers. This innovation is poised to revolutionize the satellite deployment landscape, making it both economically viable and significantly swifter.
The arena of space exploration has seen a spike in launch activities recently. Yet, the field is still bogged down by hefty logistical expenses and prolonged wait periods for launch slots. For example, securing a spot on SpaceX’s ride-share missions extends all the way to 2026.
To address these challenges, EtherealX is on the quest to introduce a novel medium-lift launcher that boasts complete reusability. This contrasts with the partial reusability feature of SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which recovers only its booster. EtherealX’s design includes retrieving both the booster and the upper stage.
Initiated in 2022 by ex-members of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) including CEO Manu J. Nair, COO Shubhayu Sardar, alongside aerospace expert Prashant Sharma as CTO, this Bangalore-based startup aspires to challenge SpaceX with its Razor Crest Mk-1. This vehicle, in its fully reusable form, aims to transport 8 tons to lower Earth orbit, with capacities reaching 24.8 tons in expendable mode and 22.8 tons in a partially reusable setup. It also promises capabilities for geostationary transfer and trans-lunar injection orbits.
“The upper stages’ return presents a challenge due to reentry heat, often making refurbishment costlier than the vehicle itself. Hence, we innovated a new rocket engine cycle from the ground up, combined with a deployment mechanism, enabling efficient engine operation in both vacuum and atmospheric conditions,” Nair commented during an interview.
The firm estimates operating costs between $350 and $2,000 per kilogram, markedly lower than current average global launch costs, including those of Falcon 9.
“With our market entry pricing, we anticipate capturing 30-40% of the market share,” Nair expressed to TechCrunch.
Now in its second year, EtherealX has secured a 16-acre site in Tamil Nadu, destined to become India’s biggest rocket engine facility created by a private entity.
What’s the Strategy Behind Full Reusability?
EtherealX employs an innovative engine cycle, distinct from traditional heat shield or thermal protection methods, to manage reentry heat. This allows for more precise landings than the broader range required by standard ballistic reentry methods, Nair detailed to TechCrunch.
“Our model can be somewhat compared to SpaceX’s Starship that aims to recover the upper stage with heat shields. In contrast, our system doesn’t combat reentry heat head-on,” he mentioned.
The enterprise has opted to maintain confidentiality on detailed designs to facilitate clandestine testing phases.
Temporarily sidelining in-house production to save on capital, the company currently collaborates with partner firms for engine manufacturing. Nonetheless, there are future plans to internalize production processes.
“As we progress in the rocket’s development, we aim to perfect the manufacturing technique of vital components before establishing an in-house production facility,” Nair elaborated.
EtherealX is gearing up for a 2026 maiden launch of its technology demonstrator vehicle (TDV), set for a full orbital flight about 400 kilometers up. This preliminary model will employ the same engine variants as the final vehicle but scaled down, employing four engines in the upper stage and a single one in the booster stage.
The TDV is envisioned to stand 35 meters high with a diameter of 2.5 meters, boasting a payload capacity of 1.2 tons.
Focusing initially on validating telemetry and flight software through the TDV launch, the consolidation plans to secure 10-15 firm customer commitments out of an identified pool of 35 for its 2026 mission.
India’s space tech sector is burgeoning, sheltering 229 startups, according to local governmental data. The industry covers a wide array of offerings from small satellite launch vehicles to advanced space situational awareness and hyperspectral imaging solutions.
The Indian government envisions a quad-fold increase in the nation’s global space ecosystem participation by 2030. Moreover, the recent introduction of a space policy and updated regulations aim to entice foreign investments and partnerships, as evidenced by successful lunar missions and collaborations like joining the Artemis Accords with NASA.
In 2023, investment in Indian space tech saw a rise to $126 million, a 7% increase from $118 million the prior year, and a substantial leap from $37.6 million in 2021, as per data from Tracxn. The investment tide remains in the early stages, laying the groundwork for a mature commercial space industry.
The seed round for EtherealX, spearheaded by the Indian-centric deep tech fund YourNest, also saw participation from BIG Capital, BlueHill Capital, Campus Fund, SGgrow, and Golden Sparrow Ventures. With newfound resources, the company looks forward to initializing engine test firings in the upcoming half-year and laying the groundwork for its inaugural TDV launch, alongside completing its engine test facility and the development of its engines.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
Watch more about AI – Artificial Intelligence
