Dhruva Space to Launch First Commercial Mission with AI Payload Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

Dhruva Space to Launch First Commercial Mission LEAP-1 Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 | AIM

This marks the company's first commercial deployment after successfully qualifying the P-30 bus on ISRO's PSLV-C58 POEM-3 mission in January 2024. Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial space mission, LEAP-1, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 in the third quarter of 2025, marking a significant step in its commercial journey and strengthening strategic space ties between India, Australia and the United States. The LEAP-1 mission will carry two advanced payloads developed by Australian firms Akula Tech's Nexus-01, featuring an onboard AI module, and Esper Satellites' OTR-2, a hyperspectral imager -- both hosted on Dhruva Space's indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform. This marks the company's first commercial deployment after successfully qualifying the P-30 bus on ISRO's PSLV-C58 POEM-3 mission in January 2024. "Following a successful qualification of the P-30 onboard ISRO's PSLV-C58, Dhruva Space is

Dhruva Space to deploy two payloads using its home-built satellite platform

Dhruva Space, an Indian space startup, is set to launch its first commercial mission, LEAP-1, in Q3 2025. The mission will deploy payloads for two Australian firms, Akula Tech and Esper satellites, using Dhruva's P-30 satellite platform on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This Indo-Australian collaboration signifies growing US support for Dhruva Space's global commercial endeavors. Space start-up Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial mission, LEAP-1, by deploying payloads for two Australia-based firms using its indigenously developed satellite platform. The Hyderabad-based start-up will launch payloads from Australia's Akula Tech and Esper satellites aboard its P-30 satellite platform on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in Q3 of the current fiscal. AI payload Nexus-01 (Akula Tech) and hyperspectral imager OTR-2 (Esper) will fly on Dhruva's P-30 platform, which was successfully tested on ISRO's POEM-3 mission in January 2024. The LEAP-1 mission is officially slated to launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 in Q3 2025, marking not just a significant Indo-Australian collaboration, but also growing support from the United States in Dhruva Space's global commercial journey, the company said. "Following a successful qualification of the P-30 onboard ISRO's PSLV-C58, Dhruva Space is excited to take its indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform to the global market," said Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO and co-founder of Dhruva Space. Dhruva Space's hosted payload offering LEAP (Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Payloads) integrates Ground Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS) and its proprietary Integrated Space Operations and Command Suite (ISOCS) for real-time mission management and payload data downlinking. PTI

Spacetech startup Dhruva Space to launch maiden commercial mission with Australian collaboration - The Economic Times

The Hyderabad-based company is set to launch LEAP-1 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the third quarter of 2025. LEAP-1 will carry two payloads on Dhruva's indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform. The payloads will have a wide range of applications across defence, disaster response, agriculture, mining, and environmental managementHyderabad-based spacetech startup Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial mission, LEAP-1, in collaboration with Australian partners Akula Tech and Esper Satellites. The mission is scheduled to lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the third quarter of 2025. The startup on Monday said the LEAP-1 mission will carry two payloads on Dhruva's indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered module from Akula Tech and a hyperspectral imager from Esper Satellites. The mission represents a growing Indo-Australian strategic partnership in the space tech sector. The two payloads will have a wide range of applications across defence, disaster response, agriculture, mining, and environmental management. Akula Tech's on-board AI module is designed to process and retrain machine learning models in orbit for earth observation use cases. Esper Satellites' imager will deliver spectrally-rich remote sensing data through its technology. This will be Dhruva's first hosted payload mission after successfully testing its P-30 satellite bus in orbit during ISRO's PSLV-C58 POEM-3 mission in January 2024. "Dhruva Space's hosted payload offering integrates ground station-as-a-service (GSaaS) and its proprietary Integrated Space Operations and Command Suite (ISOCS) for real-time mission management and payload data downlinking," the startup said in a statement. The startup said it is seeing a growing interest in its payload offerings from customers across India, Europe, and Australia. "Teaming up with our commercial partners in Australia creates remarkable opportunities for Indo-Australian Space business, which will, in turn, foster a long-term partnership. India is already a key economic and regional partner, and we see this mission symbolic of India's status as a fast-growing space programme," said Sanjay Nekkanti, cofounder, Dhruva Space. The space startup credited ISRO and the Australian Space Agency, whose engagement in September 2022 led to meaningful interactions with a delegation of Australian space startups. These discussions helped build long-term Indo-Australian partnerships and support from SpaceX for mission readiness.