Hyderabad-based space organization Skyroot Aerospace has signed a Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) with Exolaunch, a German firm dealing with launch mission management, satellite integration, and deployment services. This partnership will offer end-to-end launch services on a large scale to put satellites in orbit and considerably broaden the reach of the orbit to a wide variety of customers, including commercial, institutional, and government customers across the globe. The collaboration also takes advantage of the native launch vehicle experience provided by Skyroot and the long-standing history of satellite launches provided by Exolaunch.

Utilizing the Vikram series of launch vehicles

The partnership will be based on the use of Vikram’s series of launch vehicles produced by Skyroot. In particular, Exolaunch will bundle and launch customer satellites into the rockets, which will start with Vikram-1 orbital missions. The Vikram-1 is an all-carbon composite launch vehicle that provides on-demand and customized launch services to the small satellite operators. It also has a payload capability of up to 350 kg to the Low Earth Orbit to support the growing global requirements of responsive and affordable access to space. 

The CEO of Exolaunch, Robert Sproles, said, “We’re proud to formalize and announce our new strong partnership in India. Skyroot’s Vikram rockets bring an impressive new capability and much-anticipated launch capacity to the global launch ecosystem. Together, we will expand reliable, flexible, and cost-effective access to orbit for customers worldwide.”

The Co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, Pawan Kumar Chandana, said, “Democratizing access to space requires an integrated solution that seamlessly addresses every aspect of a satellite customer’s journey — from mission planning to integration to launch. Through our partnership with Exolaunch, a company with extensive global satellite integration and deployment heritage, Skyroot aims to provide a launch experience that is comprehensive and tailored to the needs of the modern space economy.”

Quotations Source: Fortune India  

Enhanced development and expansion

Under the Strategic Partnership Agreement, Exolaunch will provide its proven deployment technologies to the customers of Skyroot. These technologies will be applied in both dedicated and rideshare launch missions. The partnership is also characterized by the usage of proprietary EXOtube payload stacks of Exolaunch. These stacks are uniquely optimized to achieve better multi-payload rideshare configurations, a key element in the optimization of constellation launches, flexibility of mission, and full utilization of the launch vehicle.

The deal has been reached as Skyroot prepares its initial orbital launch with the Vikram-1, and this will be the first private orbital launch in India. The company is also proceeding well on its first vehicle, Vikram-1, as in August, they announced that the first stage of Vikram-1, Kalam-1200, had been entirely tested, and 236 data channels attested to flawless operation.

Besides Vikram-1, Skyroot is also developing Vikram-2 which is expected to increase the capacity by almost twofold with payloads of up to 900 kg to Low Earth Orbit. This growth will give the company increased market space in the global market. The Skyroot and Exolaunch will work together to plan the entire launch campaign, integrate the satellite, and execute the mission on-site to provide seamless services to the global satellite operators.

Conclusion

The Strategic Partnership Agreement between Skyroot Aerospace in India and Exolaunch in Germany is a decisive move in the field of the NewSpace industry. The partnership will result in a highly potent, end-to-end package by combining Skyroot and Vikram launch vehicles, which are innovative and cost-effective, and Exolaunch, which is serious about integrating and launching satellites. This combined effort is set to empower India in the global launch market and will provide reliable, flexible, and comprehensive launch services that are critical to the need to access Low Earth Orbit, which is increasing at a rapid rate.