EtherealX, a pioneering space startup based in India, has recently secured $5 million in a seed funding round. The company’s ambitious plan is to develop fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicles, with the aim of making satellite launches more affordable and efficient in terms of time.
The space industry has experienced a significant increase in launches in recent years. However, despite the growing number of players, the costs and waiting periods associated with these launches remain substantial. Even SpaceX, one of the leading players in the field, has its launches booked until 2026 due to the high demand for its services.
EtherealX seeks to address these challenges by introducing a new generation of fully reusable medium-lift vehicles. Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which achieves only partial reusability by bringing back the booster after successful launches, EtherealX’s design targets both the upper stage and the booster for recovery.
The startup, founded in 2022 by Manu J. Nair (CEO), Shubhayu Sardar (COO), a former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist, and Prashant Sharma (CTO), an experienced aerospace engineer, is headquartered in Bengaluru. Their medium-lift vehicle, known as the Razor Crest Mk-1, is designed to put 8 tons into the lower Earth orbit in a fully reusable configuration. In an expendable mode, the vehicle could deliver over 24.8 tons or 22.8 tons, depending on the specific mission requirements.
EtherealX’s innovative approach has positioned them as a potential competitor to SpaceX, offering a more cost-effective and time-efficient solution for satellite launches. With their focus on fully reusable technology, the startup is poised to disrupt the space industry and pave the way for a new era of space exploration.