Hyderabad Takes Another Major Step Forward in the Space Sector

Hyderabad has taken another significant step in the space sector with the launch of India’s first privately established integrated space services centre. The facility aims to address the growing problem of space debris and provide repair and servicing capabilities for satellites while they are in orbit. Named ‘BASE-1’, the centre was established by Cosmoserve Space. Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the facility virtually, while Telangana Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu attended the event in person on Thursday. Equipped with Space Vision Effect technology for identifying objects in space and microgravity simulation facilities, BASE-1 is reportedly the sixth such facility in the world. It will support satellite technology development, testing and various experiments.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh described the launch of BASE-1 as a major milestone for India’s private space sector. He said that bringing facilities such as space robotics, satellite rendezvous, docking and mission control under one roof would strengthen the capabilities of Indian space startups. He also congratulated Chiranjeevi Phanindra and his team for establishing the centre. Prominent astronauts Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla also conveyed their wishes to Phanindra through video messages. Telangana Minister Sridhar Babu praised companies such as Cosmoserve for taking initiatives to tackle space debris and said Hyderabad was emerging as a leader in space innovation. He noted that the city already has more than 30 space technology companies, including the country's first space-tech unicorn and several other companies aspiring to reach unicorn status.

Sridhar Babu attributed Hyderabad’s growth in the sector to its rapidly developing aerospace and defence industries, 52 national research laboratories, the expertise of 1.5 million engineers and a local supply chain capable of meeting nearly 90% of component requirements. He said Hyderabad was emerging as a hub capable of delivering space technology at globally competitive costs. The state government is also examining the possibility of establishing a dedicated Space City at Bharat Future City to encourage innovation in the sector. Cosmoserve Space Founder and CEO Chiranjeevi Phanindra said the company had achieved several milestones in its first year, including sending its first payload into space using an Indian rocket and securing seed funding. He added that BASE-1 would play a key role in developing in-orbit capabilities for Gaganyaan, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) and future satellite missions.