Dhruva Space reveals grand plans for its 280,000 square-foot Assembly, Integration & Testing Facility in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Dhruva Space, a Hyderabad-based full-stack Space company, is one giant step closer in its ongoing efforts to lead the privatisation of India’s Space sector, showcasing its 280,000 square-foot Assembly, Integration, and Testing facility for the large-scale production of its various Space products.

Dhruva Space’s AIT facility, strategically located at the TSIIC Hardware Park II in Shamshabad, would be set up for the indigenous manufacturing of satellite platforms and subsystems, satellite orbital deployers, ground station equipment and more.

Situated on a plot of 6.5-acre land allocated by the Telangana Government, the 280,000 square-foot facility would be completed in a multi-phase approach over a period of five years. The first phase comprises 150,000 square feet including a 20,000 square foot Solar Array Assembly Line, set to be ready in the next 18 to 24 months.

The increasing number of applications on Earth for satellite-based services is pushing the boundaries of space mission design and manufacturing.

As the Government of India brings in reforms to open the Space sector for participation by the private industry, the infrastructure required to scale and match the growth curve of the rest of the world is still limited in the country.

Many of the specialized testing and realization infrastructure is limited to centers of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Still renders of Dhruva Space's upcoming AIT facility to be located at TSIIC Hardware Park II, Shamshabad

The project is set in a landscape that is typical of Hyderabad, a picturesque site with an abundance of boulders and rock formations. That said, the design philosophy of the facility keeps in mind that the built-environment must represent the values and culture of its users.

Focus is largely on the work, placing the team and their organization’s values centrestage, and celebrates the ingenuity and innovation that will create a space which is both inspiring and productive. The facility aims to position Dhruva Space as a hot-bed for Space-technology in India by creating a world-class campus that is a true representation of India’s emerging stature in the world.

Sanjay Nekkanti, Chief Executive Officer, Dhruva Space, says, “The future of space is right here, right now! We had long been speaking about the AIT facility, but this site reveal sends a message to the world that India is going to compete on the world stage for Space business. Our country has a remarkable Space history of more than 60 years, and we are happy to be building upon this.”

Nekkanti continues, "Building the AIT Facility in the Shamshabad area is a critical part of our strategy for Dhruva Space’s growth and resilience – integral in helping Dhruva Space realize its full potential as a full-stack Space company. We are thankful to the Government of Telangana for developing the necessary infrastructure to make this a reality and for leading the charge on attracting increased commercial opportunities to our state's Space industry. Hundreds of jobs are possible within this AIT facility, which shall ensure that Space enthusiasts of all backgrounds and experiences as well as businesses thrive in this rapidly emerging landscape.”

Abhay Egoor, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, elaborates on the details of the upcoming facilities, “It is certainly exciting to unveil the grand plans for the facility! Combined with facilities such as T-Works and the various Small and Medium Enterprises across Balanagar, Cherlapally and various industrial parks within the city to fabricate and test components, the AIT facility will cater to the growing small satellite market, and Dhruva Space’s indigenous development of Space-grade Solar arrays. A testament to the same has been all three of our Space missions till date, which were fully realized within the Hyderabad ecosystem before being launched into Space. Dhruva Space is already in talks with large global OEM players who are looking to leverage this infrastructure to act as a capacity doubler to cater to their global supply demands.”  

A private soft reveal of the site plans was done on 10 October 2023 to honor World Space Week, as a delegation of around 54 people from across 27 French companies, including Dhruva Space’s partners Kinéis and Comat, traveled to Hyderabad to explore potential opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Cédric Post, Deputy Director, International, European and Commercial Affairs, GIFAS, who was present at the event, observes, “We are very excited to have had the opportunity to meet with the NewSpace ecosystem of Telangana, especially Dhruva Space and its enthusiastic team developing satellites and associated services. The upcoming AIT facility will hopefully pave the way to  a long term cooperation with French equipment manufacturers. We wish Dhruva Space success in its achievements!”