Spacetech startup Inbound Aerospace raises $1 million in funding from Speciale Invest
The company says it will use the new capital to develop and test its spacecraft systems, advance research and development, and help achieve major design milestones. Inbound Aerospace's focus is on research and manufacturing enabled by microgravity (weak gravity in an orbiting spacecraft) conditions, as reliance on the International Space Station (ISS) becomes uncertain ahead of its planned retirement in 2030.Microgravity enables production techniques and scientific experiments that are impossible on Earth. The ISS has been a hub of scientific research and human habitation since 2000, and astronauts have been conducting experiments on the station for nearly 25 years, as of this July.Bhutey identified several issues with the traditional method of conducting experiments on the ISS. "There are long wait periods of two to four years due to limited experiment slots and crew safety considerations. There are challenges of capsule recovery, which involves significant deceleration loads and extensive search and rescue efforts," he said, adding that the impending decommissioning of the ISS will limit platforms for in-space manufacturing and experimentation.Inbound's spacecraft will be used for in-orbit testing, technology demonstration for qualifying satellites, and microgravity research on subjects such as seed growth. The spacecraft will be deployed in Low Earth Orbit and can conduct a flight for about three months.The founders also highlighted in-space manufacturing as a lucrative application. This process leverages the unique conditions of space, particularly microgravity, to develop or cultivate high-value products for use in sectors such as healthcare and materials science. The startup's primary clients are payload implementation partners who design and build experiment hardware for companies and universities, Bhutey said.Inbound Aerospace will transport a specialised experiment box that will conduct and maintain the experiment in desired conditions, and return to Earth. The startup was initially supported by IIT Madras' startup studio, Nirmaan, and now operates from the IITM Incubation Cell. It recently represented India as the only national finalist in Japan's S-Booster 2025, an international space business competition. Inbound plans to launch its first mission, i.e. a minimum viable product of its re-entry vehicle, by early 2028. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Can medicines inject the vitamins Amazon is missing?
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