Hyderabad: Dhruva Space, a notable space tech company from Hyderabad, is ready to make waves with its new launch programme, Polar Access-1 (PA-1). Scheduled for lift-off on January 12, 2026, at 10:17 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, this mission aims to carry out ten space missions across six Indian states and two foreign nations.
These missions will focus on critical areas like disaster communication, environmental monitoring, education, and commercial Earth observation. Each mission is designed to support various public institutions and budding space technology users.
PA-1 will mark the first satellite missions for several universities in India and beyond. This initiative is part of Dhruva Space’s ‘ASTRA (Accelerated Space Technology Readiness & Access) for Academia’ programme. The goal is to build long-term capabilities in state-level space technology.
According to industry insights, this mission is expected to connect over 150 educational institutions with satellite technology, boosting practical learning and research. Notably, Dhruva Space’s satellites will enable critical advocacy around using space technology for sustainable development.
The mission on January 12 will deploy satellites into Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Dhruva Space has developed a comprehensive infrastructure for this, including satellite platforms and separation systems. Their services will also extend to telemetry and mission operations through Ground-Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS), a first in India approved by IN-SPACe in 2024.
Among the satellites being launched are:
- MUNALSAT (Nepal): Focuses on environmental monitoring through vegetation mapping.
- CGUSAT-1 (Odisha): Odisha’s inaugural satellite, supporting amateur radio communications.
- DSAT-1 (Karnataka): Enables two-way amateur communications.
- LACHIT-1 (Assam): Promotes store-and-forward messaging capabilities.
- AAYULSAT (Tamil Nadu): Tests a new docking technology for satellite refueling.
- SANSKARSAT (Gujarat): Offers a unique LED payload that simulates an ‘artificial star’ visible from Ahmedabad.
- THYBOLT-3 (Telangana): Features a satellite communication network for disaster response.
- TG-Based NGE Indian Customer: The first commercial satellite from a Hyderabad-based client.
Additionally, the market for satellite technology is rapidly expanding. A report from the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) highlights that the global satellite industry revenue hit $366 billion in 2022, showcasing the growing relevance and potential of satellite missions like those of Dhruva Space. This encourages both academic and commercial sectors to explore the vast applications of satellite technology.
With this mission, Dhruva Space is not just launching satellites; they’re launching dreams. They plan to host workshops to train users in leveraging satellite technology for disaster communications, further engaging communities and fostering collaboration. As the world looks to space for solutions, initiatives like Polar Access-1 illustrate the vital role of innovative technologies in addressing modern challenges.
Source link
DHRUVA SPACE, DHRUVA SATELLITE LAUNCH, ISRO, NEPAL SATELLITE LAUNCH, POLAR ACCESS 1, INDIAN UNIVERSITIES REACH FOR THE STARS WITH DHRUVA SPACE'S POLAR ACCESS-1 PROGRAMME
