- On National Space Day, PM Modi met with space startups and urged them to revolutionize India as a global space power while addressing grassroots challenges.
- Startup founders outlined ambitious plans, including facilities with capacity to produce one rocket a month, targeting monthly launches by mid-2027, and longer-term ambitions to scale up to one launch a week and eventually several launches a day.
- Startup founders reported increased investor confidence and international interest, with one CEO noting that investor confidence increased significantly after Skyroot’s first launch, and another founder securing eight launch contracts within a month of a successful launch, mostly from international customers.
On National Space Day, PM Modi emphasized the need for India to become a global space power, urging startups to leverage the country’s advantages.1
He stated, “We are highly cost-competitive. There is no question regarding the quality of talent,” highlighting India's skilled workforce and risk-taking capacity.
During an interaction with 20 space startup founders, Modi noted that the private space ecosystem could attract global talent “like a magnet,” turning human capital into a strategic strength.
He stressed the importance of policy consistency to build trust among entrepreneurs, stating, “While mistakes arising from their own decisions may have consequences, they would not be abandoned by the government.”
Startups are targeting monthly rocket launches by mid-2027, with ambitions to scale up to one launch a week.
One CEO reported increased investor confidence following a successful launch, securing eight contracts within a month, primarily from international clients.3
PM Modi also called for the expansion of space technology applications in sectors like agriculture and environmental protection, urging startups to collaborate with universities and organizations to enhance productivity and address grassroots challenges.
He stated, “The broader objective is to ensure that space technology moves beyond specialized applications and becomes an important tool for economic development.”
“Startup founders told PM Modi that investor confidence surged after Skyroot's first launch, with one firm securing eight launch contracts within a month, mostly from international customers. They also plan facilities producing one rocket a month, aiming for weekly and eventually daily launches.”
