In a landmark achievement for India's burgeoning private space sector, HEX20, a small satellite manufacturing company based in Technopark, has successfully launched and established contact with 'Nila,' the nation's first private payload hosting satellite. This mission signifies a major leap forward in indigenous space technology and innovation, marking the beginning of more ambitious endeavors from HEX20 and its partners in the evolving landscape of space exploration.
Developed in just four months, 'Nila' was launched aboard a SpaceX Transporter-13 mission on March 15, 2025, at 12:13 pm (IST), facilitated by Berlin-based satellite deployer Exolaunch. The satellite successfully separated from the launch vehicle less than an hour later, at 1:07 pm (IST). The critical milestone of receiving the beacon signal at HEX20’s Satellite Control Center occurred on March 16, confirming the mission's success. HEX20 will commission 'Nila' from its ground station at Marian Engineering College, ensuring the satellite’s operational capabilities and mission success.
The 'Nila' satellite, named after a culturally significant river in Kerala, also the namesake of the Technopark building where HEX20 is located, carried Release Actuators from Dcubed, a German space company, as its payload. This demonstrates HEX20's commitment to fostering global partnerships for rideshare missions. HEX20 builds payload-agnostic satellite platforms and offers satellite mission services and payload hosting capabilities to its customers.
HEX20's accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first instance of an Indian private company independently providing satellite space for an international client. This achievement underscores the emerging potential of India's private space sector and the collaborative ecosystem that enables such missions.
Looking ahead, HEX20 has several missions lined up. The company is planning to launch a larger, 50 kg satellite on an ISRO launch vehicle next year. HEX20 aims to enhance the capabilities of institutions and private organizations globally through its customizable spacecraft, components, FlatSats, and capacity-building programs. The company is also expanding its lab facilities to support the development of multiple satellites.
India's space sector has traditionally been dominated by ISRO, but recent policy changes are opening the sector to private enterprises and startups. The Indian space economy is projected to grow at a 48% CAGR over the next five years, reaching $50 billion. The privatization of the Indian space sector aims to boost innovation, attract private investment, reduce dependence on imports, and strengthen India's position as a global space power. The establishment of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) is a landmark step, enabling private enterprises to participate in satellite launches, space-based services, and even deep-space missions.
HEX20 has established partnerships with academic institutions such as National Central University in Taiwan and the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) in the USA. HEX20 also partnered with iSpace, a Japanese lunar resource development firm. The company has a presence in Australia, the UAE, and Taiwan, and has partnered with the domestic manufacturing network that plays a pivotal role in ISRO missions.
With its pioneering work, HEX20 is paving the way for other spacetech firms in India to build and export satellites for customers worldwide.
