Commercial space sector expands as 18 startups gain IN-SPACe approvals

edexlive.com Aug 14, 2026

Commercial space sector expands as 18 startups gain IN-SPACe approvals

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 14, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

The Indian government confirmed that 440 space‑technology startups are registered, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade’s Start‑up India portal tracks them. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN‑SPACe) has issued 113 authorisations to 52 non‑government entities, including 18 startups such as Agnikul Cosmos, Bellatrix Aerospace, Dhruva Space, Digantara Research, GalaxEye, Manastu, PixxelSpace, Skyroot, and Space Kidz. Applications for ISRO infrastructure use are processed through a digital platform and expert review. Two commercial launches are planned for FY 2026‑27, with over six expected in FY 2027‑28.

💡 Why It Matters

· This expansion signals India’s shift toward a more commercially driven space ecosystem, positioning the country as a competitive launch provider in the global market.

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Agnikul wants to make rockets reusable and launch them 100 times a…

Agnikul, an Indian space startup, announced a plan to make its rockets reusable and achieve 100 launches annually by 2028. The company will use a reusable first stage, a flexible launch schedule, and convert spent stages into low‑cost satellites. The strategy aims to reduce launch costs and increase launch cadence. Agnikul’s approach aligns with India’s growing SpaceTech sector, which has attracted $871 million across 285 companies as of July 2026, and follows a broader industry shift toward reusable launch vehicles.

💡 By turning spent stages into satellites, Agnikul could dramatically cut satellite deployment costs, reshaping how small‑satellite operators access space. This model also pressures competitors to innovate, accelerating the overall pace of India’s commercial space expansion.

space.com · Aug 14

NASA’s canceled lunar space station tech will help build the Artemis moon…

Northrop Grumman is repurposing hardware from NASA’s cancelled Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) for a new series of Lunar Infrastructure Demo (LID) missions. HALO, originally built for the now‑scrapped Gateway lunar‑orbit station, will have its power, data and mechanical interfaces adapted to test surface power, thermal control, autonomy, communications and payload services on the lunar south pole. The effort aligns with NASA’s revised Artemis architecture, which aims to land astronauts on Artemis IV in late 2028 after a fleet of uncrewed missions prepares the site. By reusing HALO components, the company hopes to accelerate collection of performance data needed for long‑duration habitation and in‑situ resource utilization near the ice‑rich pole. The repurposed modules will also demonstrate survivability during the lunar night.

💡 Reusing HALO fast‑tracks critical technology validation, giving the United States a tangible advantage as it races to establish a permanent presence at the moon’s resource‑rich south pole.

spacenews.com · Aug 14

Maritime Satellite Service Revenues to Reach $3.79 Billion by 2035 as NGSO…

The Novaspace Maritime Satellite Communications, 14th Edition, projects global maritime satellite service revenues to climb from $2.28 billion in 2025 to $3.79 billion by 2035, as non‑geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) networks become the dominant connectivity layer at sea. NGSO services, which accounted for 48 % of revenues in 2025, are forecast to deliver 86 % of the market’s income and support roughly 98 % of capacity demand by 2035. The report expects the fleet of VSAT‑equipped vessels to exceed 600 000, with satellite bandwidth needs rising from 500 Gbps today to about 2.5 Tbps in a decade. Lower‑cost terminals, faster installation and competitive pricing are spurring adoption across merchant, passenger, leisure, fishing and offshore segments, while hybrid GEO‑NGSO solutions preserve resilience.

💡 NGSO’s rapid ascent reshapes the economics of maritime connectivity, delivering the capacity and latency needed for emerging digital operations and crew‑wellness services at sea.

space.com · Aug 13

Supermassive black hole spews energy 300,000 light years into deep space

A study by Satoshi Yamada and colleagues used Japan’s XRISM X‑ray satellite to observe the quasar H1821+643, located 3.4 billion light‑years away. Their data show that winds from the quasar’s supermassive black hole are roughly 100 times more powerful than previously thought, injecting energy equivalent to billions of supernovae. The outflows create turbulence that extends about 300,000 light‑years beyond the host galaxy, far into the surrounding galaxy cluster. The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, revise estimates of black‑hole feedback on large scales.

💡 The study demonstrates that black holes can redistribute vast amounts of energy across intergalactic space, reshaping our understanding of galaxy‑cluster evolution.

spacenews.com · Aug 13

An optical link ‘internet’ to connect networks in space

Mbryonics CEO John Mackey discusses with SpaceNews host David Ariosto the company’s development of optical links for satellites and other space infrastructure. The interview explores how high‑speed, laser‑based connections could enable interoperable space networks, reducing latency and increasing data throughput between orbital platforms. Mackey outlines technical challenges, potential commercial applications, and the broader vision of a seamless, global space‑based internet. The conversation highlights Mbryonics’ role in advancing next‑generation space communications.

💡 Optical links promise to transform satellite data exchange, offering speeds far beyond current radio‑frequency systems. This leap could unlock new services—from real‑time Earth observation to global broadband—by creating a unified, high‑capacity space network.

thehawk.in · Aug 13

India’s space sector sees 440 startups, 18 get IN-SPACe authorisations: Govt

The Indian government reported that 440 space‑technology startups are registered on the Start‑up India portal, and the IN‑SPACe authority has granted 113 authorisations to 52 non‑government entities, including 18 startups such as Agnikul Cosmos, Bellatrix Aerospace, and Skyroot Aerospace. The minister noted that private companies are slated to conduct more than eight commercial rocket launches over the next two years, with two planned for FY 2026‑27 and over six projected for FY 2027‑28. Applications for ISRO infrastructure access are processed through a standard operating procedure via IN‑SPACe’s digital platform.

💡 The rapid growth of India’s private space sector signals a strategic shift toward commercial satellite and launch services, positioning the country as a competitive player in the global space economy.