Arabic
English
Gujarati
Hindi
Kannada
Marathi
Telugu
Astroscale, a Japanese firm focused on eliminating space debris, announced on Friday that it has partnered with Bengaluru-based companies Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace to work together on technology and services. According to Eddie Kato, president of Astroscale’s Japan unit, these collaborations aim to lead to an orbital services offering for Indian clients within the next one to two years, marking Astroscale’s inaugural operations in the Asia-Pacific region beyond Japan.
“India has been on our top list of possible markets” with established space capabilities, where Astroscale’s on-orbit servicing technology would meet demand, Kato told Media. Astroscale is also interested in South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia, he added.
“India’s space policy used to be rather protectionist, but we’ve seen very rapid moves, to bolster ties with the United States and liberalise the market for commercial actors – even fostering them,” Kato said.
The agreement lacked any financial details. India has opened its space sector to private companies, moving beyond the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and has established a fund of 10 billion rupees ($116 million) to assist startups.
In India, Astroscale is collaborating with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to showcase a commercial debris removal mission planned for 2027. The company has also secured contracts with the U.S. Space Force and the space agencies of the UK and France, which involve experimental services aimed at prolonging satellite lifespans.
As the number of satellites in orbit rises, the risk of potential collisions is projected to exceed $500 million over the next five years, according to industry estimates. Digantara offers space situational awareness services to track orbital objects and has agreements with several U.S. defense agencies. Bellatrix Aerospace specializes in manufacturing satellite propulsion systems.
Kato mentioned that, in collaboration with its partners, Astroscale will initially provide on-orbit services for Indian government clients.
The partnership would “help unlock new market opportunities across both established and emerging space economies,” Digantara’s Vice President Shreyas Mirji said in a statement.
It “marks a significant step for us as we venture into the Japanese market,” said Bellatrix chief executive Rohan M Ganapathy.
This action marks the most recent collaboration between Japanese and Indian space firms, including partnerships like that of moon exploration company ispace and rocket manufacturer Skyroot, along with SKY Perfect JSAT-affiliated Orbital Lasers and robotics company InspeCity. Officials have announced that the Indian and Japanese governments are set to conduct their third round of “space dialogue” policy discussions in Tokyo in the coming days.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
