Recently, Grahaa Space received authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN–SPACe) to launch its maiden nanosatellite mission, named Solaras S2.
Established in 2020, IN–SPACe is a single-window, independent nodal agency aimed at encouraging and regulating private sector participation in India’s space ecosystem.
The primary objective of IN–SPACe is to facilitate and promote the involvement of non-governmental entities in space activities.
A nanosatellite is a small artificial satellite that typically weighs between 1 and 10 kilograms. Due to its compact size and lower cost, it is widely utilized for scientific research, Earth observation, and various commercial applications.
Grahaa Space is an emerging Indian newspace startup concentrating on near-real-time Earth observation using a constellation of nanosatellites in low-Earth orbit. Backed by the Viskan Group, the company has been incubated at the Space Technology Incubation and Innovation Centre (STIIC) within the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) located in Thiruvananthapuram.
In 2024, Grahaa Space formed a partnership with South Korea-based Innospace to advance its Solaras S2 technology demonstration mission, which is aimed at qualifying key systems and subsystems.
Solaras S2 is a nanosatellite mission designed to validate the nanosatellite bus and platform developed by Grahaa Space. The satellite will be launched from the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil using the Hanbit-Nano launch vehicle, which has been developed by Innospace.
The HANBIT-Nano is a two-stage small-lift launch vehicle, measuring 21.8 meters in height and 1.4 meters in diameter. It is powered by a 25-ton-thrust hybrid rocket engine in the first stage and a 3-ton-thrust liquid methane engine in the second stage.
The mission aims to establish a reliable nanosatellite capability that can support multiple ground-based applications using near-real-time geospatial data. Additionally, it will pave the way for future missions in collaboration with Skyroot Aerospace in 2026, which will involve testing communication modules, optical payloads, and inter-satellite link technologies.
Q1. What is the purpose of the Solaras S2 mission?
Answer: The Solaras S2 mission aims to validate Grahaa Space’s nanosatellite bus and platform, enhancing capabilities in Earth observation and supporting various applications using geospatial data.
Q2. Who authorized the Solaras S2 mission?
Answer: The Solaras S2 mission received authorization from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN–SPACe), which regulates private sector participation in India's space activities.
Q3. What is the significance of nanosatellites in space research?
Answer: Nanosatellites are significant due to their small size and cost-effectiveness, making them ideal for scientific research, Earth observation, and various commercial applications.
Q4. What collaboration did Grahaa Space undertake for its mission?
Answer: Grahaa Space partnered with South Korea-based Innospace for its Solaras S2 technology demonstration mission to qualify key systems and subsystems.
Q5. What are the future plans for Grahaa Space after Solaras S2?
Answer: After Solaras S2, Grahaa Space plans to collaborate with Skyroot Aerospace in 2026 to test advanced communication modules and technologies for future space missions.
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