Trivandrum’s space legacy continues with Hex20

Trivandrum has been the cradle of India’s space ambitions ever since the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched its first rocket from Thumba, a coastal locality in the city, in 1963.

Seven decades later, Kerala’s capital once again marks a defining moment in India’s space journey – this time, as the launchpad for the private sector’s foray into global commercial satellite services. On 15 March 2025, Technopark-based Hex20 made history with the launch of its Nila satellite, opening a new chapter in the country’s evolving space industry.

Unlike the excitement surrounding Skyroot and Agnikul’s successful launch vehicle tests, or when Dhruva, Digantara, and Pixxel launched satellites to validate their applications, Hex20’s achievement received little of the prominence it deserved in national or local media. Nevertheless, its place in Indian space history is assured – this marks the first time an Indian private company has independently provided satellite space for an international client.

The journey of Nila, a compact CubeSat weighing under five kilograms, is more than just a technological achievement – it is a testament to the emerging potential of India’s private space sector and the collaborative ecosystem that made such a mission possible.

Placed in orbit via Berlin-based satellite deployer Exolaunch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission, Nila carried Release Actuators from the German space company DCubed, marking a significant milestone in international space technology collaboration.

“When this project came to us in November 2024, we discussed it with our team, as it was a daunting task, especially given the launch date was in March,” recalls Anurag Reghu, co-founder and director of Hex20. “They said we should do it and urged us to take up the challenge.”

Capital Gains

The success of this mission is rooted in Trivandrum's deep-seated expertise in space technology.

“Our team, which is mostly recruited from Trivandrum, is really, really good. We are also blessed with the support of around 20 vendors based in the city who had experience working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), and their help was invaluable to us,” says Anurag.

When Hex20 set up base, the availability of talent and the expertise Trivandrum had built up over decades were the main reasons the co-founders cited. In less than two years, they were proved right.

“Most of the firms we relied on for this mission were located in and around Trivandrum, though we did get help from companies based in places like Chennai and Ahmedabad.”

Their mission extended beyond technological partnerships. Cochin-based Verdant Technologies and Chennai-based Amigoo Aerospace Solutions provided crucial support without charging them a dime. The entire production cost of the Nila satellite was around 1 crore rupees, with a significant portion benefiting local vendors.

The economic potential of such missions is substantial. International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group (IMARC) predicts that the global small satellite market will grow from 4.9 billion US dollars in 2024 to 8.4 billion US dollars by 2033. Hex20’s successful mission opens doors for Indian companies to tap into this burgeoning market, positioning the country as a competitive player in the global space technology landscape.

India's unique positioning becomes evident in the global context. While space companies in the United States may not be cost-effective for many clients, and security concerns loom over Chinese technologies, Indian firms like Hex20 offer an attractive alternative. The country's reputation for delivering high-quality, cost-effective space solutions makes it an increasingly preferred partner for nations ranging from Europe to Australia.

Need for Changes

However, Hex20’s path hasn’t been without challenges. The logistics part – getting the right approvals – was a maze to navigate. As this was the first time an Indian company was exporting a satellite on a commercial basis, there were many unknowns to address in New Delhi and Kerala, including various ministries, the customs department, and others.

However, stakeholders like Kerala Space Park (KSPACE) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), Technopark and Kerala Startup Mission provided invaluable support. “There was a lot of cooperation from every quarter and that helped us to complete the mission of delivering the satellite to Germany and from there to the SpaceXcargo bay in the US,” says Anurag. “Some of the people who helped us didn’t even want to take credit for it.”

With their pioneering work, Hex20 has opened a pathway for other spacetech firms in India who can build and export satellites for customers around the globe.

Another hiccup was lack of familiarity of such work among local vendors, who have historically dependent on Isro contracts. Some were hesitant to engage with private companies as it was a virgin territory for them.

“Hopefully, this will change over time,” Anurag notes. “Those who have been relying solely on government supplies should raise their bars and start looking for business globally. That will create a thriving ecosystem in the country.”

This startup is well placed to provide such insights. Last year, it entered a significant partnership with iSpace, a Japanese lunar resource development firm. It has also established academic collaborations with institutions such as Taiwan's National Central University and the University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.

Hex20, which builds payload agnostic satellite platforms and offers satellite mission as a service and payload hosting capabilities for in-orbit demonstration to its customers, has a few missions lined up already. Their next target is a bigger satellite which is scheduled to be launched during the next Isro mission.

Catching Them Young

Hex20’s approach extends beyond the industry in Kerala – the company has been actively engaging with the student community. It has set up a ground control station for the Nila satellite at Marion College of Engineering, training faculty and students in its operation.

“We are operating from the Nila building at Technopark, and Marion College's location is on the line of sight from here, with the open sea facing it. So, it was a perfect combination for us, and hopefully, students will utilise the opportunity – one that very few of their peers will get,” says Anurag.

Head of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department at the college, Hari Kumar, says the centre is a major boost for them.

“The advantage of the college's location also came as a blessing. The magnetic equator runs along this area – which is why Isro chose nearby Thumba for its first launch – and it helps establish a clear communication link with the Nila satellite,” he says.

Hex20 says it is now engaging with colleges such as Trinity College, Mar Baselios, and Barton Hill Engineering College, and has observed significant interest in space science among students. Faculty and students from Government Engineering College Munnar have also approached them, requesting assistance in setting up a space-related centre there.

The enthusiasm is evident even among school students. Trivandrum Model School is now considering launching a student satellite, while students from schools like Sarvodaya and Patton Girls' High School in the city have reached out with various plans.

“Some of the school students really impressed us with their knowledge of different Isro missions and the various systems they used. We should create an ecosystem here to nurture such talent, and Trivandrum should utilise its historical links to Indian space agencies to its advantage,” says Anurag.

Hex20 has taken one step towards this mission. Hopefully, the stakeholders in the sector will come together and turn it into a great leap for Kerala and India.

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Hail the new ride hailer

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