Experts discuss India’s space tech boom

Despite the workload, he highlighted the strong camaraderie between astronauts and mission control.

New Delhi: At the NXT Conclave 2025, NASA astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino and leading Indian space entrepreneurs came together to discuss the wonders of space exploration, the rise of private launchpads, and India’s rapidly expanding space sector. The panel featured esteemed experts, including Mr. Tanveer Ahmed, Co-Founder & CTO of Digantara; Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder & CEO of Agnikul Cosmos; Mr. Rohan M. Ganapathy, CEO & CTO of Bellatrix Aerospace Pvt. Ltd.; and Dr. Mike Massimino, a veteran NASA astronaut.

Throughout the discussion, the panelists shared their insights on space technology advancements, private-sector opportunities, and India’s increasing global influence in space exploration. The session underscored how privatization, combined with strong government backing, is positioning India as a leading hub for space innovation. The knowledge and experiences shared by industry experts reaffirmed India’s bright future as a key player in global space missions.

Dr. Mike Massimino, a NASA astronaut with extensive spaceflight experience, described his time beyond Earth as nothing short of “magical.” He expressed the mix of exhilaration and responsibility that accompanies space travel. “It’s a fascinating experience—both thrilling and stressful. You’re fully focused on your mission, ensuring everything is executed perfectly. My missions took place on the space shuttle, where we serviced the Hubble Space Telescope during spacewalks.

The Hubble is an extraordinary scientific instrument, responsible for groundbreaking discoveries,” he shared.

Despite the intensity of the work, he emphasized the camaraderie among astronauts and mission control teams. “It’s a job, but at the same time, it’s pure magic to be up there. The teamwork between my crew members and the dedicated professionals on the ground—those who trained us and those who monitored us from mission control—was truly remarkable,” Massimino added.

He also expressed his admiration for India and shared his excitement about visiting the country for the first time. “This is my first time in India, but oddly enough, I feel like I’ve been here before. From space, I’ve flown over India countless times and always admired it from above,” he remarked, further underscoring the deep connection between space exploration and global unity.

Srinath Ravichandran, Co-Founder & CEO of Agnikul Cosmos, shared his journey in building a private space company in India, recalling initial skepticism about its legality. He noted that by 2022, increasing government support enabled them to establish a private launchpad. Reflecting on early challenges, he emphasized the difficulty of securing investor confidence in private space ventures.

Rohan M. Ganapathy, CEO & CTO of Bellatrix Aerospace, highlighted the importance of space propulsion for missions to the Moon and Mars. While aspiring to travel to space himself, he remains focused on developing advanced technologies. He also pointed out India’s rapid private space growth, from just four startups in 2018 to over 300 today, marking a significant industry expansion.