Ahmedabad Startup Builds India's First Electric Rocket Engine

Small satellites need rides to space, but getting there means waiting months for a rideshare slot or paying millions for a dedicated launch that few companies can provide. An aerospace startup in Ahmedabad thinks India can do better.

Omspace Rocket and Exploration, founded in 2020 by Ravindra Raj B M, is developing Infinity-One, a reusable rocket designed to launch small satellites within 24 hours from a mobile platform. That speed matters for customers who need specific orbits at specific times, not just whatever's available on someone else's schedule.

The engineering centerpiece is India's first electric-pump-fed rocket engine. Unlike traditional designs that use gas turbines to push propellant, Omspace's engine runs on electric motors and batteries. It's simpler to build and maintain, trading some raw power for reliability and cost savings.

The company manufactures most components in-house at its Ahmedabad facility, using composite materials, 3D printing, and five-axis machining. The team of about 35 people raised $3 million in July 2025 from a Dubai-based family office, bringing their ambitious vision closer to reality.

Why This Inspires

While Infinity-One hasn't flown yet, Omspace isn't waiting to make an impact. The company runs Youngspace, an educational program that has reached more than 55,000 participants through over 200 workshops across India and the UAE. These sessions introduce students to aerospace engineering, building India's next generation of space innovators while the rocket takes shape.

The startup is part of a growing wave of private Indian space companies tackling payloads that ISRO doesn't prioritize. India currently holds just 2% of the small satellite launch market. Omspace's goal is helping push that to 15% by 2035, creating competition that could lower costs globally.

The company has built international partnerships with organizations in the UK, North America, Australia, and Europe, and maintains an arm in the UAE. It's exhibited at major aerospace events, including Tokyo's space business expo in May 2026, representing India's expanding private space sector.

Rocket development is a marathon, not a sprint, and Omspace's vehicle is still on the ground five years after incorporation. But the team is building real hardware, training thousands of students, and proving that world-class aerospace innovation can happen in Ahmedabad.

From classroom workshops today to satellite launches tomorrow, Omspace is writing India's space story one electric pump at a time.