Dhruva Space: A New Chapter for Indo-Australian Space Collaboration
Full-stack space engineering firm Dhruva Space is preparing for its first commercial mission, LEAP-1, scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission represents a major step in Dhruva Space’s evolution—from demonstrating its satellite technology to deploying customer-driven payloads.
LEAP-1 will carry two innovative payloads on Dhruva Space’s indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform. The first, Akula Tech’s Nexus-01, features an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) module. The second, Esper Satellites’ OTR-2, includes a hyperspectral imager. This launch marks a significant Indo-Australian partnership, with additional support from the US, showcasing Dhruva Space’s growing role in the global commercial space sector.
Technological Innovation in Orbit
LEAP-1 follows the successful in-orbit qualification of Dhruva’s P-30 bus during the LEAP-TD mission on ISRO’s PSLV-C58 POEM-3 in January 2024. With LEAP-1, the company moves from validation to commercial service, offering hosted payloads integrated with its proprietary Ground Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS) and Integrated Space Operations & Command Suite (ISOCS) for mission management.
The two payloads combine cutting-edge capabilities in AI and hyperspectral imaging. Akula Tech’s AI module allows real-time data processing and in-orbit AI/ML model retraining, providing critical insights for defence, disaster response, and environmental monitoring. Meanwhile, Esper Satellites’ imager will deliver rich Earth Observation data via its EarthTones API, supporting applications in agriculture, mining, and climate analysis.
Akula Tech CEO Preetham Akula described the launch as a key step towards developing next-generation satellites in Australia. The company’s AI models are designed to self-improve over time, offering a level of autonomy that mimics an onboard analyst capable of detecting key features in near real time.
Esper Satellites Co-founder Shoaib Iqbal highlighted the affordability of their OTR mission series, achieved with under $1 million in funding. His colleague, Przemyslaw Lorenczak, emphasised their lean approach to development and the role of Dhruva Space in showcasing their hyperspectral capabilities globally.
Strengthening Global Space Partnerships
Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO and Co-founder of Dhruva Space, emphasised the importance of international cooperation in commercialising the P-30 platform. He sees the LEAP-1 mission as a symbol of India’s expanding role in the global space economy. Dhruva’s partnerships with private players in Australia, France, Italy, and beyond reflect this ambition.
Nekkanti also thanked ISRO, IN-SPACe, and the Australian Space Agency for supporting Dhruva’s vision. He credited Mr Enrico Palermo’s 2022 visit to Hyderabad for sparking collaboration with Australian startups, laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships.
To celebrate the milestone, Dhruva Space unveiled the official LEAP-1 mission patch. The design incorporates symbols of hyperspectral imaging, AI, and space heritage, capturing the mission’s spirit of technological synergy and multinational cooperation.
LEAP-1 marks the beginning of a new commercial phase for Dhruva Space, as it scales its hosted payload services and strengthens its role in enabling space-based applications worldwide.
with inputs from Reuters