Skyroot wins twin-launch contract from US startup

Hyderabad: US-based Reflect Orbital has purchased two dedicated launches from Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace to deploy its planned spacecraft, marking a new commercial collaboration for India’s private space sector.

The agreement will provide Reflect Orbital with dedicated launch capacity and greater schedule certainty as it develops its satellite constellation. The launches will complement the company’s other planned launches from sites in the US.

Reflect Orbital is developing orbital mirrors designed to redirect sunlight towards specific locations on Earth. The company aims to extend electricity generation at solar farms and provide lighting for applications such as night-time search-and-rescue operations and construction work after dark.

The company said it had recently received a licence from the US Federal Communications Commission to operate its first spacecraft. It is continuing to engage with astronomers, local communities and regulators as it prepares to scale its operations.

Skyroot co-founder and CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana said the partnership reflected the ambitions of global space missions that its Vikram rocket family was designed to serve.

“We are pleased to partner with Ben and the Reflect Orbital team across two dedicated launches, providing schedule certainty and mission flexibility,” he said.

The agreement adds to Skyroot’s commercial launch pipeline and signals international customer interest in its launch services. For India’s private space sector, the deal highlights the opportunity to tap into global demand for dedicated satellite launches as new space-based businesses emerge. Securing repeat missions from international customers will be important for Skyroot to establish its commercial credentials, build a sustainable launch business and compete in the global market.

Founded in 2018 by Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot became India’s first space-tech unicorn in May 2026 after raising nearly $60 million at a valuation of $1.1 billion, according to the company. For Reflect Orbital, securing dedicated launches is an important step towards deploying the spacecraft needed to deliver its proposed sunlight-redirection services.

The collaboration brings together an Indian private launch provider and a US space startup pursuing applications that connect satellite technology with energy generation and emergency response.

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Srikanth Godavarthi

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