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New Delhi: Hyderabad-based Abyom, a New Space startup incubated by BITS Pilani aims to demonstrate vertical takeoff vertical landing (VTVL) capabilities in 2026. The automated demonstrator will be loaded with a sophisticated suite of redundant sensors that allows for realtime correction, and validates the descent systems. The demonstrator reduces the risks for developing reusable launch vehicles. Abyom is starting off small, with achievable steps in a clear roadmap that increases in ambition in a planned manner, and is starting with the development of a reusable sounding rocket. This is the type of rocket that can hop between planets.

Abyom has set up its own test facility with a plug-and-play architecture, that is available as a service. The injector and igniter developed for the rocket is also available as a component. The Control System Module supports test sequencing, a live operations dashboard, a failsafe interlock, and is versatile enough to be used in rockets as well as missiles. After the sounding rocket, Abyom plans to develop the Small Reusable Launch Vehicle (SRLV) and the Medium Reusable Launch Vehicle (MRLV), each designed to last for 25 flights, with a turnaround time of a week or less. These rockets can be used to conduct microgravity experiments, and deploy satellite constellations, defence satellites to geosynchronous orbit and even orbital complex hardware.

The race to reusability

ISRO has developed the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) specifically to cater to the burgeoning demand for deploying small satellites. A number of New Space startups across the country are developing rockets for small satellites, with Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos leading the charge with their Vikram and Agnibaan vehicles. Reusability allows for further bringing down the cost of access to space, an innovation by SpaceX. Agnikul Cosmos recently pivoted towards complete reusability. Pune-based Astrophel Aerospace is aiming to develop a partially reusable rocket, while Bengaluru-based EtherealX is aiming for complete reusability with its Razer Crest rocket.