In order to get firsthand information about the event, Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Bhatnagar (Retd) of SP’s Aviation approached the Head Strategy, Shreyas Mirji of Digantara and Kranthi Chand of Dhruva. The excerpts are covered below.

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): Can we request you to take us through your journey from the date of incorporation till now?

Shreyas Mirji (Mirji): Digantara is incubated at IISc, Bangalore. It was founded in December 2018 (by Anirudh Sharma and Rahul Rawat), as a spin-off from the university student satellite team. The founders decided to provide a solution to the problem of space debris and provide an end-to-end Space Situational Awareness (SSA) platform that will transform the way the operations are carried out in the space sector.

Digantara has recently received one of the first authorisations for space activities in India from IN-SPACe and launched the world’s smallest payload called ROBI.

SP’s: What exactly is Digantara aiming to achieve through the POEM on-board the PSLV-C53?

Mirji: ROBI stands for ROBust Integrating proton fluence meter, it is a digital space weather instrument for monitoring space weather on a near real time basis. As of July 4, 2022, Digantara has successfully established connection with ROBI and has started receiving data.

Measuring Space Weather not only aids in the protection of space-based and terrestrial systems against space weather, it is an important component of SSA. The near real-time data from ROBI will allow Digantara to develop higher fidelity models through which it plans to assist stakeholders in making informed decisions using Digantara’s proprietary software called the Space–MAP.

SP’s: How’s been the journey so far with respect to subscription from investors?

Mirji: In 2021, Digantara raised $2.5 million from Kalaari Capital towards demonstrating its technological capability. Towards non-dilutive funding, we have raised required amount of money through government grants and contracts.

SP’s: You are a pretty young start-up, what’s been the achievements in past one year?

Mirji: In less than a year since funding has designed and deployed ROBI to space.

Digantara has been actively working in the domain of SSA, throughout the world, by understanding the requirements of various stakeholders to policy making. We have been actively contributing in various global, working groups on SSA, towards building sustainable space. It has won innovation challenges with OneWeb, Airbus and OHB and is currently partnering with them.

Digantara has also started building a multimodal SSA data pool to complement its space-based capabilities.

On the software end, Digantara’s proprietary orbital data processing software, orbital engine called OrEng and demonstrated its capability with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), the same has further been extended to its defence applications.

SP’s: Your start-up is essentially focused on SSA, would you like to share your future plans?

Mirji: Digantara has a two-pronged approach, on the upstream, Digantara is building the world’s first space based sensor network to track Resident Space Objects (RSO) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with 10 times better resolution than the current industry standards. Alongside, the company is building a multi modal SSA data pool for comprehensive awareness. Digantara plans a constellation of 40 plus satellites in LEO and further extend its presence to higher orbits based on the market demand.

On the downstream, Digantara has developed a proprietary application termed as Space-MAP that will offer products based on data fusion through its multi-modal SSA data sets. It will be as powerful and sophisticated as Google Maps, serving as a foundational layer for space operations and research.

Digantara’s intends to support spacecraft operators through its complete lifecycle, offering products right from Mission Design to End-of-life de-orbiting to its stakeholders (Defence, Regulatory Bodies, Insurance Companies, Launch Providers, Commercial Space Companies)

SP’s: Consequent to certain pathbreaking reforms undertaken by the government in the space sector, how’s your experience been with ISRO and other government bodies?

Mirji: The support has been phenomenal right from 2018, the Chairman and the subject matter experts, have been accessible to us and have extended their support in all fields.

IN-SPACe, has provided authorisation for Digantara to access its test facilities, SSA resources, and assistance with filing for its satellite constellation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This support has propelled us to be competitors on a global level.

SP’s Aviation (SP’s): Can we request you to take us through Dhruva journey from the date of its raising till now?

Kranthi Chand (Chand): Dhruva Space was started in 2012 as India’s first space technology start-up, with the vision to privatise the space activity. The decade-long journey has culminated into receiving the first set of authorisation to put objects into space. We are now one step closer to providing Full-Stack Space Engineering solutions. We have been building Satellite platforms and Subsystems, developed Satellite Deployment Mechanisms compatible with PSLV and setup satellite tracking antennas for our clients.

SP’s: What exactly is noteworthy for Dhruva in the POEM?

Chand: Onboard the POEM, Dhruva Space tested its Satellite Orbital Deployer (DSOD). It acts as an interface between the rocket and the satellite, holds and releases the satellite with the required ejection velocity for deployment in space.

This successful test is a precursor to the launch of two Satellites, Thybolt 1 &Thybolt 2, built by Dhruva Space on the upcoming PSLV-C54 mission. This will also enable us to provide deployment systems, integration, and launch services support to global customers.

SP’s: How’s been the journey so far with respect to obtaining funding?

Chand: We raised our first round of Venture Capital in 2019, with Mumbai Angels, and kickstarted our major development work. In 2021, Indian Angel Network and Blue Ashva Capital joined our journey, increasing our total capital to 27 Crore. We are currently in the process of raising next round of funding to establish Assembly, Integration and Testing infrastructure.

SP’s: Would you like to share your future plans?

Chand: Our product lineup includes satellite platforms to cater up to the weight class of 300 kgs. The smallest platform ‘PDoT’ is suited for IoT Communication; ‘P30’ for critical strategic applications; and ‘P90’ for large high-precession and agile satellites. We plan to scale the production to one P30 or 15 PDoT per week and a P90 every quarter. We are also working on large satellite solar array to power LEO satellites. We are also working on S and X band ground antenna systems.

Our mission is to build in India and support the global market, we are in talks with Indian strategic users and abroad to build dedicated space infrastructure.

SP’s: Consequent to certain pathbreaking reforms undertaken by the government in the space sector, how’s your experience been with ISRO and other government bodies?

Chand: The support by ISRO actually predates the policy reforms in Space Industry. Various ISRO centres have guided and supported our development. Some of the review panels were chaired directly by S Somanath, Secretary, DOS.

IN-SPACe has assisted with access to ISRO test facilities and the authorisation of the space activities. The DoT had extended its support in becoming a member of the International Telecom Union (ITU). DRDO too has played a critical role by giving us the opportunity and support to build critical space systems.