When the Gujarat earthquake struck in January 2001, it left entire neighbourhoods buried under rubble. Buildings had collapsed, roads had cracked open, and thousands of families were desperately searching for loved ones.
Rescue teams poured into the affected areas, but another crisis soon became apparent. Telephone exchanges had stopped functioning, mobile networks were patchy, and communication between emergency responders had broken down at a time when every passing minute could mean the difference between life and death.
In those difficult hours, it was amateur HAM radio operators — volunteers who communicate using a dedicated radio system that can function independently of conventional telephone and mobile networks — who became an important link between rescue teams. Their messages helped coordinate relief efforts when much of the communication infrastructure had failed.
Among those watching these events unfold was 13-year-old Sanjay Nekkanti.
For most people, it was another story of readiness developing from tragedy. For him, it became a question that stayed with him even after life had returned to normal. If a relatively simple communication system could continue working when everything else stopped, what role could more advanced technologies play during disasters?
“My journey into space started at a pretty young age,” recalls Sanjay, CEO and co-founder of Dhruva Space. “At age 13, I was living in Gujarat when the devastating 2001 earthquake struck. Amid the widespread destruction and collapse of conventional communication networks, I witnessed how amateur HAM radio operators became a very critical lifeline for search and rescue efforts.”
“It was the first time I understood how important communication technology could be during a crisis. It also got me thinking about how space-based infrastructure could help keep people connected when conventional systems fail,” he tells The Better India.
That fascination eventually led to the creation of ‘Dhruva Space’, a Hyderabad-based company that is helping build satellites and the systems that keep them operational.
Established in 2012 by Sanjay Nekkanti, Krishna Teja Penamakuru, Abhay Egoor and Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy, the company develops end-to-end space infrastructure that supports applications ranging from disaster response and climate monitoring to agriculture, communications, scientific research and national security.
The company was established at a time when India’s private space ecosystem was still in its infancy. ISRO had already earned international recognition for its scientific achievements, but there were very few private companies designing and manufacturing space technologies within the country. The founders believed India had the engineering talent to change that.
Building for India’s space future
The CEO’s interest in space continued to grow after the earthquake. At 19, he joined SRMSAT, India’s first student satellite mission undertaken with the support of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Working on the project helped him understand how satellites are designed and operated, but it also exposed a gap in India’s growing space ambitions.
Established in 2012 by Sanjay Nekkanti, Krishna Teja Penamakuru, Abhay Egoor and Chaitanya Dora Surapureddy, the company develops end-to-end space infrastructure.
While ISRO had built impressive capabilities, commercial participation remained extremely limited. There were very few companies geared to design satellites, manufacture critical components, or support organisations that wanted to use space technologies.
“When I founded Dhruva Space in 2012, there were very few private companies working in India’s space sector. We wanted to help build some of the capabilities that the country would need as the industry grew, from developing technology at home to strengthening supply chains and creating skilled jobs,” he says.
India has already shown what it can achieve in space, from reaching Mars and landing on the moon to contributing to international human spaceflight and scientific missions. “Those milestones have proved the country’s scientific and engineering capabilities,” he continues. “The next step is to build a strong industrial ecosystem that can design, manufacture, and operate space technologies at scale.”
For the founders, the opportunity was never limited to building satellites. They wanted to create an ecosystem where organisations could access every stage of a satellite mission through a single company instead of coordinating with multiple vendors.
The work that begins before lift-off
Ask someone what comes to mind when they hear the word ‘satellite’, and most are likely to picture a rocket soaring into the sky.
In reality, launching the satellite is only one part of the process.
Before a satellite takes flight, engineers spend months and sometimes years designing the spacecraft, testing every component, and confirming that it can withstand the extreme conditions of space.
Once it reaches orbit, the satellite must be monitored constantly. Engineers need to communicate with it, track its health, receive the data it collects, and send commands whenever necessary. All of this depends on an extensive support system both in space and on Earth.
That is the business Dhruva Space has chosen to build.
“Our capabilities span spacecraft platforms, space-grade subsystems, launch integration, mission operations and ground infrastructure,” the CEO explains.
The company was established at a time when India’s private space ecosystem was still in its infancy.
To understand what that means, it helps to break each part down.
- Spacecraft platform: The satellite’s main structure that carries cameras, sensors, communication payloads, and other mission equipment into orbit.
- Space-grade subsystems: The satellite’s core systems, including power supply, onboard computers, communication equipment, and navigation controls, built to withstand the extreme conditions of space.
- Launch integration: The process of preparing the satellite for launch by securely attaching it to the rocket, conducting final tests, and ensuring it is ready for lift-off.
- Mission operations: Once the satellite is in orbit, ground teams continuously monitor its health, send commands, track performance, and ensure the mission runs as planned.
- Ground stations: Earth-based antenna facilities that communicate with satellites, receiving images and data while transmitting commands, serving as the vital link between space and Earth.
Rather than offering only one of these services, Dhruva Space combines them into a single integrated system.
“Instead of focusing on a single product, we are creating an integrated ecosystem that allows customers to design, build, launch, operate and communicate with satellites through a single trusted partner,” Sanjay explains.
He compares it to the aviation industry.
“If a satellite mission were like building and operating an airline, most companies would provide just one part, perhaps the aircraft, the airport systems, or the air traffic control. Our platform brings those critical pieces together. We help build the satellite, prepare it for launch, support getting it into orbit, operate it once it’s in space, and provide the ground systems that support communication with it throughout its mission,” he explains
That integrated approach simplifies what has traditionally been a highly fragmented process.
Instead of coordinating with multiple companies for different stages of a mission, organisations can work with one partner from design to deployment.
For customers, this reduces complexity, shortens timelines and improves reliability, allowing them to focus on how satellite data can solve real-world problems rather than the engineering challenges involved in reaching orbit.
“In space, success cannot be defined by a single milestone,” he says. “It is built through space heritage, the commercialisation of technology and the ability to deliver reliably and repeatedly over time. Every successful mission strengthens confidence in the next.”
That continuous approach has helped the organisation move from an ambitious idea to a commercially operational company whose technologies are already supporting customers across India, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East.
The satellites it helps build, however, are only part of the story. Their real value lies in what they make possible once they begin looking back at the Earth.
From space to solutions on Earth
For most people, a satellite’s job ends once it reaches orbit. In reality, that is when its work begins.
As satellites circle the Earth, they continuously collect information using cameras and sensors that can observe land, oceans, and the atmosphere.
They wanted to create an ecosystem where organisations could access every stage of a satellite mission through a single company.
This process, known as Earth observation, allows scientists and governments to study what is happening across large areas without physically being there. From tracking the path of a cyclone to measuring the health of crops or monitoring shrinking water bodies, the information gathered from space helps decision-makers respond faster and plan better.
This is where the organisation sees its biggest contribution.
“Our impact is mission-driven and application-focused,” says the CEO. “Our satellites and space infrastructure support applications such as disaster management, climate and environmental monitoring, communications and scientific research; areas where space-based capabilities help governments, institutions and industries make faster, more informed decisions and improve preparedness.”
During floods, earthquakes, cyclones, or wildfires, the biggest challenge is usually understanding what has happened on the ground. Roads may be inaccessible, communication towers damaged, and weather conditions too dangerous for aircraft to fly immediately.
Satellites overcome many of these challenges because they continue operating high above the affected region. They can capture images of flooded villages, identify roads that remain open, estimate damage to bridges and buildings, monitor the spread of wildfires, or observe changes in coastlines after storms.
Combined with reliable communication systems, this information allows disaster management authorities to prioritise rescue operations, send relief teams where they are needed first, and measure the situation as it evolves. Instead of relying entirely on reports arriving from different locations, officials can access an updated picture of events from space.
The CEO believes this ability to provide timely information will become progressively important as climate-related disasters become more frequent.
“We are helping build infrastructure that supports applications where decisions need to be made quickly,” he says. “Whether that is disaster management, environmental monitoring, or communications, space-based capabilities give governments and institutions information that can improve preparedness.”
The same satellites continue generating value even when there is no emergency. They regularly observe forests, rivers, glaciers, coastlines, and agricultural land, producing long-term records that help scientists understand environmental changes.
They can track deforestation, identify changes in water resources, study air quality, and analyse the effects of climate change over months and years. For governments, such information supports planning, conservation efforts, and infrastructure development based on evidence rather than assumptions.
The many uses of space technology
Ask someone how space technology affects their daily life, and many are likely to think of astronauts, rockets, or distant planets. Sanjay believes that perception misses the much larger picture.
“People don’t always see the role satellites play because they are operating hundreds of kilometres above us. But they support everything from weather forecasting and communications to agriculture, navigation, and emergency response,” he explains.
Before a satellite takes flight, engineers spend months and sometimes years designing the spacecraft.
- Agriculture: Agriculture offers one of the best examples. Satellite imagery helps farmers monitor crop health across large areas, detect water stress, pest infestations, and soil issues, enabling precise irrigation and fertiliser use while improving yields and reducing costs.
- Healthcare: Satellite-enabled communication supports telemedicine in remote regions with limited connectivity. Earth observation data also helps researchers study how environmental changes affect public health and disease patterns.
- Logistics: Satellite navigation allows companies to track vehicle fleets, optimise delivery routes, and improve supply chain efficiency.
- Finance & insurance: Geospatial data helps institutions assess risks, monitor assets, and verify insurance claims, particularly after natural disasters.
- Environment & urban planning: Satellites monitor forests, rivers, coastlines, glaciers, and air quality, while planners use updated imagery to track urban growth and plan future infrastructure.
- National security: Satellites strengthen border surveillance, maritime monitoring, secure communications, navigation, and intelligence gathering, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.
“Space is no longer a niche industry,” the CEO says. “It is becoming foundational infrastructure, much like electricity or the internet. As access to space becomes more affordable and commercial capabilities continue to mature, its applications will underpin sectors far beyond aerospace, improving productivity, resilience, sustainability and quality of life.”
Building India’s place in the global space economy
The team’s ambitions extend beyond developing technology. The founders also want to strengthen India’s ability to build space systems within the country.
When the company was established in 2012, private participation in the sector was extremely limited. Today, India is home to more than 400 space startups, reflecting how quickly the ecosystem has evolved. As one of the country’s earliest private space companies, the platform has helped demonstrate that sophisticated space technologies can be designed, engineered and manufactured in India for customers around the world.
The company today serves civil, defence, academic, and commercial organisations across India, Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Middle East. It has also built a network of more than 550 Indian suppliers and technology partners, supporting jobs across engineering, manufacturing, electronics, software development and mission operations.
“Equally important is the ecosystem Dhruva is helping build,” he says. “By developing indigenous space technologies, strengthening domestic supply chains, creating high-value engineering jobs and supporting private-sector participation, we are contributing to our country’s long-term space capability and technological self-reliance.”
The company also works closely with universities, supporting student satellite programmes that allow engineering students to participate in real space missions.
“We also work closely with higher education institutions to nurture future-ready talent, supporting the Government of India’s vision of a strong nationwide student satellite programme,” he adds. “By giving students hands-on exposure to real space missions, we are helping develop the next generation of engineers, scientists, and system thinkers who will sustain India’s space ambitions for decades to come.”
Its next milestone is equally ambitious. They are constructing a 280,000 sq ft spacecraft manufacturing and space engineering facility in Telangana, where satellites and related systems will be assembled, integrated, and tested at scale.
“This vision is backed by significant investment in indigenous manufacturing,” the CEO says. “As the industry moves towards large satellite constellations comprising hundreds and even thousands of spacecraft, manufacturing capacity and repeatability become as important as innovation. Facilities like these will allow India to meet growing domestic and global demand while strengthening supply chain resilience.”
He believes India’s future in space will depend as much on manufacturing and engineering as it does on scientific breakthroughs.
“I believe India is well-positioned to become a major space-industrial nation, leveraging its engineering talent, proven mission heritage, supportive policy environment and growing private-sector ecosystem,” he says. “The opportunity extends beyond launching satellites to designing, manufacturing, operating and exporting space technologies at scale.”
Looking ahead, the CEO believes the world is witnessing the early years of an industry that future generations may one day take for granted.
“If you think about it, most people don’t wake up thinking about the internet. Yet almost everything we do today depends on it,” he says. “We believe space is on a similar trajectory.”
He pauses before adding a thought that takes him back to the question first raised during the Gujarat earthquake.
The CEO believes this ability to provide timely information will become progressively important as climate-related disasters become more frequent.
“One day, our children or grandchildren may think nothing of booking a ticket to a space station, the moon, or even Mars. That future will only be possible because companies, engineers, scientists, and policymakers are laying the foundations today,” he says.
For Dhruva Space, those foundations are being built one satellite, one ground station, and one mission at a time. But the company’s work is ultimately measured not by what it sends into orbit, but by how the information returning to Earth helps people prepare for disasters, understand a changing climate and make better decisions long before the next crisis arrives.
All pictures courtesy Dhruva Space.
