Japan’s Astroscale Partners with Indian Startups to Expand Orbital Services
Japanese space debris removal company Astroscale has announced partnerships with Indian space startups Digantara and Bellatrix Aerospace. The collaboration aims to bring advanced orbital services to India, potentially launching operations within the next one to two years.
Expanding to the Asia-Pacific Region
This partnership marks Astroscale’s first move into the Asia-Pacific region outside Japan. Eddie Kato, President of Astroscale’s Japan unit, highlighted India’s growing role in global space activities. He described India as a top-priority market, thanks to its strong space capabilities and recent policy shifts favouring private participation.
Astroscale also expressed interest in expanding into South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Australia as part of its broader Asia-Pacific strategy.
India’s Space Sector Opens to Private Investment
India has significantly liberalised its space sector in recent years. The government now allows private players to contribute alongside the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). A fund worth 10 billion rupees (about $116 million) has been established to support emerging startups in the industry.
Previously a protectionist market, India has moved swiftly to strengthen international cooperation and promote commercial space ventures. Kato noted the shift in India’s space policy, particularly the increasing collaboration with the United States.
A Strategic Alliance for On-Orbit Services
Astroscale is best known for its work in space debris removal and satellite servicing. At home, it is collaborating with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on a debris removal mission planned for 2027. Internationally, it has secured contracts with the US Space Force and space agencies in the UK and France.
With its Indian partners, Astroscale plans to initially focus on government clients. Digantara brings expertise in space situational awareness, with existing contracts from multiple US defence agencies. Bellatrix Aerospace specialises in satellite propulsion systems.
Shreyas Mirji, Vice President at Digantara, said the partnership would “help unlock new market opportunities across both established and emerging space economies.” Bellatrix CEO Rohan M Ganapathy added that the collaboration “marks a significant step for us as we venture into the Japanese market.”
While the agreement includes no disclosed financial terms, the strategic value of the partnership could be considerable. Industry analysts estimate that space collisions could result in more than $500 million in losses over the next five years, underscoring the need for such services.
Strengthening India-Japan Space Ties with Astroscale
This development adds to a growing list of collaborations between Indian and Japanese space firms. Other recent partnerships include those between Japanese moon exploration company ispace and India’s Skyroot, as well as a joint venture involving Orbital Lasers and Indian robotics company InspeCity.
Indian and Japanese officials are also preparing for the third round of bilateral space policy talks in Tokyo, further cementing ties between the two spacefaring nations.
with inputs from Reuters