In a landmark achievement for India’s private space sector, Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space has announced its first commercial satellite mission, LEAP-1. The mission is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the third quarter of 2025, marking the company’s transition from experimental launches to full-fledged commercial operations.
LEAP-1 will carry two advanced payloads developed by Australian partners: Akula Tech’s Nexus-01 and Esper Satellites’ OTR-2. Both instruments will be housed on Dhruva’s homegrown P-30 satellite platform, which has already been space-qualified during the LEAP-TD mission aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C58 in early 2024.
The mission is a significant step forward for Dhruva Space’s ambition to offer end-to-end satellite solutions. Akula Tech’s payload features an AI-driven module capable of real-time geospatial analysis and onboard machine learning—enabling detection of events such as wildfires or anomalies directly from space. Meanwhile, Esper Satellites will deploy a hyperspectral imager for high-resolution Earth observation, focusing on efficient and cost-effective satellite-based analytics.
According to Dhruva Space CEO Sanjay Nekkanti, the successful qualification of the P-30 platform has positioned the company to serve global markets with indigenous technology. The upcoming LEAP-1 mission is not just a showcase of engineering—it’s a strategic Indo-Australian collaboration, highlighting growing international interest in Indian private space capabilities.
Akula Tech’s Chief AI Officer, Nishq Ravindranath, emphasized the edge-computing power of their satellite AI module, capable of retraining models using space-collected data to improve responsiveness and reduce reliance on ground-based infrastructure.
Esper Satellites’ CEO Shoaib Iqbal noted that the mission proves cutting-edge space technology can be achieved on a lean budget, with their campaign funded for under $1 million—showcasing an affordable path to innovation in hyperspectral Earth observation.
The partnership reflects deepening space cooperation between India and Australia, and Dhruva’s LEAP program is already attracting international attention, including interest from Italy and France. The company will operate the mission using its proprietary Ground Station-as-a-Service and Integrated Space Operations & Command Suite, ensuring real-time control and data management.
With this milestone, Dhruva Space not only joins the growing list of Indian space startups going global but also underlines India’s evolving role in the future of affordable, intelligent, and cooperative space missions.
