Chennai: Space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos believes the biggest opportunities in the space sector lie beyond launch services and says its reusable rocket technology could cut launch costs by up to 80%. As it prepares for its first orbital mission, the startup plans to test recovery of an orbital-class rocket booster on a barge – India’s first such attempt and a feat achieved by only a handful of global companies.Speaking to TOI, co-founder Moin SPM said the company ultimately aims for full reusability to dramatically reduce payload delivery costs and transform launch economics. “We are also eyeing revenue streams beyond single launch events, including keeping the rocket’s upper stage in orbit as a continuous, revenue-generating platform called Rock-Sat,” he said.“The traditional pricing equation for a rocket launch is heavily influenced by the bill of materials, insurance, and launchpad rentals. By recovering and refurbishing the lower stage, deploying our own launch pad and mission control rooms and lean, mobile ground operations, drastically reducing both the bill of materials and rental costs. It makes more sense to convert the upper stage as a satellite platform. We only pay for essential safety services,” he added.The startup recently secured funding under the Centre’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund after raising $17 million from venture capital last September. It is also bringing former ISRO chairman Dr S Somanath on board as an observer and plans to build space-based data centres for AI inference in partnership with Indian cloud provider NeevCloud.Srinath Ravichandran, CEO and co-founder of AgniKul said the company is moving away from rigid per-kg pricing models. “We want to offer customers flexible options regarding timeline, launchpad vehicle, and pricing, and initially target payload capacity between 300kg and 500kg. The reusability will allow us to be profitable with competitive pricing,” he said.“While the current focus is on earth observation and satellite communication payloads. Over the next six years, the space industry will expand into new sectors beyond data centres, including space manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and asteroid mining. Space access will move from highly specific, one-off missions into regular, operational systems and we aim for the same repeatability and reliability as everyday commercial cars,” he added.
