Kerala space dreams back on launchpad

AeroExpo 2025, organised by KSPACE on June 19 and 20, wasn’t a showy affair with headliner acts or billion-rupee backdrops. It was more like a modest but meaningful family wedding – one where the bride’s family, proud but not extravagant, welcomed the near and dear to celebrate a long-cherished dream turning into reality.

When Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally laid the foundation stone of the planned space park’s Common Facility and the Research and Development Centres, the mood at the Hyatt Regency echoed exactly that: quiet joy, careful optimism, and a feeling of “at last.”

The official function, which kept guests waiting for 90 minutes, almost mirrored the state’s journey into the space sector – time ticking away as everyone waited.

In 2019, the state – often described as the cradle of India’s space sector – announced a grand Space Park project, aiming to leverage Trivandrum’s links to major organisations like the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), BrahMos Aerospace, and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).

But a political scandal caused the plan to implode before it could take off. The momentum was lost, while Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka surged ahead with well-oiled industrial corridors and investor-friendly policies.

The rescaled KSPACE, announced in December 2022, carries none of the earlier glamour – but all the hope. Seeded with just 2 crore rupees and a promise of 18.5 acres within the Technopark campus, it marks a quieter, more pragmatic beginning. The resources earmarked for it pale in comparison to what other sectors in the state receive – and even those are often bogged down by red tape.

And when it all came together for its first grant outing last week, KSPACE head G Levin could be forgiven for feeling the pride of a father walking his daughter down the aisle.

The KSPACE plan is modest in its first phase. Construction of the Common Facility Centre (CFC) and R&D buildings is expected to be completed by end-2027. The goal is 25 percent occupancy by 2028 and 50 percent by 2029. But if the state is serious, it needs to think bigger and move faster. The centres are being constructed by Ircon International Limited, and the total cost is 244 crore rupees.

Still, the AeroExpo showed what was possible and saw a more strategic conversation emerge – thanks in part to the presence of established private players and startups that have begun to play an increasing role in the space economy. They spoke about the opportunities ahead and the hurdles they face. Most of the demands centred around the need for deep tech financing models and robust supply chains.

Space Policy Call: One of the key suggestions to emerge from the private sector participants was the urgent need for a specific Space Policy. Such a framework could define long-term goals, offer incentives for startups, and create channels for deeper ISRO-industry-academia collaboration. Without it, the ecosystem risks falling back into piecemeal growth.

“Kerala has the potential to develop a robust space economy, as it has a long association with the space sector,” Subba Rao Pavuluri, head of Ananth Technologies, told the audience. “But while states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka have announced a state space policy, Kerala has yet to have one. This is a huge disadvantage, as those states will be able provide clear policy guidelines, while Kerala will continue to remain an exporter of knowledge and brains.”

He said Kerala must harness the locally available space tech expertise, as Trivandrum is home to thousands of space scientists, and focus on creating wealth here. There are enough components needed for a robust ecosystem, thanks to the decades-long association with Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) units.

With India realising the need for more satellites to compete internationally and to fortify its defence, there will be a significant increase in both the launch vehicle sector and satellite production – much of which will be outsourced by Isro. This will bring more opportunities for both established space tech firms and fabricators, and open up space for new startups.

Expanding Market: Firms like Hex20 have started expanding markets beyond India by becoming the country’s first commercial satellite service catering to foreign clients. One of their upcoming projects involves building a lander for the UAE’s meteor exploration programme.

“We located our firm in Trivandrum as we had confidence in the technical support we could get here, and most of the firms we relied on for the Nila satellite mission were located in Kerala,” said Anurag Reghu, co-founder and director of Hex20.

The expected rise in the number of satellites and the opportunities arising from its downstream applications provide a golden opportunity for Kerala, as it aligns with the state’s vision of creating a knowledge economy. Data from satellites will become a key resource for fields as varied as agriculture and insurance, and firms that can supply such information will be in demand across the world.

Satellite data analysis can also enhance governance within the state, offering detailed insights into forest cover, water tables, soil analysis for farmers, and vital inputs for effective disaster management. In a state where unplanned and disjointed road development causes hardship for people on a daily basis, geospatial data can replace the outdated methods currently in use.

Rao urged Kerala to tap into the opportunity and build a satellite information highway that can boost sectors like agriculture, education, fisheries, and urban planning in the state. “Future education access need not be tied to brick-and-mortar facilities, and advanced learning can be made available to students even in remote areas with this technology.”

Choking Conditions: To create such an ecosystem, KSPACE needs to expand its bandwidth and remove the obstacle course that various departments have placed in its path (Yes, we’re looking at you, Revenue Department). Despite the bureaucratic ball and chain tied to KSPACE – and the paucity of funds – the nascent entity has managed to inch ahead by signing MoUs with several premier institutions and enabling a major space consortium that could bring business worth crores to the state.

PS Sarilal, MD of Aeroprecision, points out that Kerala’s advantages include airports close to production facilities and a deep-sea port in Trivandrum. “In no other state can you reach a production centre without travelling an hour by road. Moreover, the greenery, clean air, and high-class resorts are Kerala’s natural calling cards.”

Sarilal, who also heads the Chamber of Aerospace Industries, says they are not asking for subsidies, but for priority funding – on par with sectors like healthcare and tourism. He also suggests that KSPACE consider offering 99-year leases to enterprises, given the massive investments and longer gestation periods involved in aerospace, unlike the faster-moving software industry.

Resilient Tribe: Private sector players like Aeroprecision, who displayed their wares at the AeroExpo event, were a testament to the resilience of local industries and startups that have grown despite the lack of robust governmental support for the space sector. Even some of the officials who attended the event were surprised at the level of achievement these firms have attained.

More than the photo opportunity the event provided, the KSPACE show hopefully opened the eyes of those who have failed to recognise these significant achievements. It was indeed a pity that the ministers present did not stay long enough to listen to these entrepreneurs – who say they can do far more for the state if the right policies are put in place.

“There is no dearth of business for Kerala’s space tech firms – one of the limiting factors is the lack of agility in our support systems. Other nearby states are moving at lightning speed, and we need to realise this quickly,” says Pius Varghese, COO of Vinvish Technologies.

He points out that, at present, Kerala companies execute less than 10 percent of what Isro outsources – but this can be quickly turned around, as there are firms capable of delivering. Many are unable to scale up to meet the growing demand, and that is where support is needed.

Vinvish is building a 3.9-acre end-to-end manufacturing facility at Trivandrum’s Kinfra Park, with a planned built-up area of 350,000 square feet. It will offer everything from design and fabrication to testing and packaging, with a daily capacity of 30,000 Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) and the ability to turn an idea into a finished product within weeks.

Role for KSPACE: While many feel the absence of an efficient supply chain system is a drag on Kerala’s ambitions, experts point out that this challenge can only be met by bringing existing small and medium enterprises into the space sector fold. They argue that policies should help these firms upgrade their technology, and that KSPACE can play an active role in building an efficient supply chain by providing high-end testing systems and fabrication facilities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

But with a business timeframe that extends well beyond four-year election cycles, finding the political will to expedite KSPACE’s progress could prove difficult. This is crucial, especially as other states are moving at warp speed when it comes to the space economy.

For instance, while Kerala was laying the foundation stone for its new KSPACE facility, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa was in France promoting his state’s capabilities at the Paris International Air Show 2025.

When ISRO launched its first rocket from Thumba, it was carried to the launchpad on a bicycle – an image that remains a classic reminder of India’s humble beginnings. Decades have passed, and our rockets and satellites now compete with the best in the world. But one gets the nagging feeling that Kerala has yet to update its own mode of delivery when it comes to government policies.

Many promises were made at the KSPACE event, and one hopes they won’t remain mere words but translate into an action plan that can truly accelerate the state’s journey into the space economy.

Like a bride on her wedding day, KSPACE was adorned with a glittering array of announcements. Only time will tell if those were genuine commitments – or just ornamental decorations, borrowed for the occasion and a photo op.

Web44 founder nets a fortune

Israeli coder Maor Shlomo runs an AI analytics firm called Explorium and, as a side project, he started another company called Web44 for “vibe coding” – meaning anyone can create a web or mobile app simply by describing what they want. No coding or team of developers required. The bootstrapped Web44 grew to 10,000 users within three weeks via word-of-mouth and made 189,000 US dollars in profits in just six months. Shlomo, who is the sole shareholder of the company, has now sold it to Wix in an all-cash 80 million US dollars deal. His eight employees will share a 25 million US dollars bonus payout. So, is this a precursor to the single-person unicorns predicted by AI evangelists?

But if you’ve started dreaming about working for an AI firm and pocketing cool millions, hold on a second and listen to the chairman of Chinese tech giant Alibaba. He recently told an audience that when DeepSeek released its R1 model in January, Alibaba cancelled the Chinese New Year vacation – which fell in the same week – and asked everyone to stay in the office and sleep there until they delivered a rival version to R1. This is like a boss cancelling Onam in Kerala or Christmas in the US, as Lunar New Year is when the whole of China takes a week-long break. AI firms can be fun to work for, but there may be times when you end up sleeping in the office while everyone else is out partying.

Honda zooms into space

Honda is known for its automobiles and bikes, so it came as a surprise when the company announced the successful test of a reusable rocket. The 56-second vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) test took place in Hokkaido, often dubbed Japan’s “space town.” The rocket, developed by Honda R&D, reached an altitude of 271.4 metres and touched down just 37 centimetres from its target, according to a company statement. The Japanese government is aggressively promoting its space industry, aiming to double its size to over 55 billion US dollars by the early 2030s through active subsidies to private companies. This has attracted another carmaker – Toyota – which also aims to boost the mass production of launch vehicles.

Robot shopkeeper arrives

Vending machines that supply food and drinks are old news. But a Singaporean firm has developed a new model that’s as big as a corner shop and can stock hundreds of different items. It uses a robotic arm that grips and dispenses items with a magnet, performing all the tasks of a typical store clerk, The Straits Times reports. Unlike ordinary vending machines, the automated kiosk can display up to 300 product types and store over 2,000 individual items. The start-up, Unistop, says it now plans to enter markets facing manpower shortages in the retail industry.

Growing green thumbs

Gardening and teens? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening after a new simulation game – created in just three days by a 16-year-old – took the internet by storm. Earlier this month, the game smashed the concurrent player record previously held by Fortnite, with millions gardening at once, reports Sherwood. The game, called Grow a Garden, lets you plant seeds, grow crops, earn in-game currency called “sheckles,” and spend it on more seeds, animals, and farm upgrades. Want to speed things up? Throw in some real-world cash – because obviously, your virtual cauliflower needs urgent care. A Roblox spokesperson confirmed to Sherwood News that the game broke the record last week with 16.5 million players gardening at once – roughly half the number of people living in Kerala.