Three startups to launch payloads aboard ISRO's PSLV - C58 XPoSat Mission on January 1

The PSLV-C58 is to launch on January 1 at around 9 am from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh

Space tech startups Dhruva Space, Bellatrix Aerospace, TM2Space are set to launch their payloads aboard Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) upcoming Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - C58 XPoSat Mission on January 1, 2024.

These payloads will be sitting on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-3) of the launch vehicle. The rocket is to launch from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh at 9:10 am.

While Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space will launch their LEAPTD (Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Technologies Technology Demonstrator) to demonstrate the microsatellite subsystems, Bengaluru-based Bellatrix Aerospace is set to launch two payloads aboard the launch vehicle.

Firstly, Bellatrix will launch Rudra 0.3 HPGP, a green monopropellant thruster. Thruster or satellite propulsion systems are the engines that keep satellites in orbit for their entire lifespan, which is around 10-15 years.

Also read: Bellatrix Aerospace plans multiple launches in 2023 to test satellite engines

They will also launch ARKA 200, another type of thruster developed by Bellatrix.

Earlier in April 2023, Bellatrix and Dhruva Space shared a berth in the POEM module of PSLV-C55, to launch their respective payloads.

Apart from that, Bengaluru-base TakeMe2Space (TM2Space) will also launch Radiation Shielding Experiments Module for evaluating the effectives of tantalum coating.

A release by TM2Space claims that this radiation shielding coating will help in increasing the lifespan of CubeSats, a class of nanosatellites.