EtherealX, an Indian space business, has secured $5 million in a seed investment round to support the development of entirely reusable medium-lift launch vehicles. The company aims to make satellite launches more cost-effective and time-efficient.
The number of space launches has significantly increased in recent years. Nevertheless, regardless of the number of participants, launches still entail significant traveling expenses and substantial waiting durations. SpaceX launches are scheduled until 2026, even when using a ride-sharing arrangement.
EtherealX seeks to address this issue by introducing a novel medium-lift vehicle that is entirely reusable. This innovative approach intends to lower transportation expenses and shorten launch durations. While SpaceX’s Falcon 9 achieves partial reusability by returning its booster to Earth following successful launches, EtherealX is developing vehicles that aim to recover both the upper stage and the rocket.
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EtherealX plans to compete with SpaceX by introducing its medium-lift spacecraft called Razor Crest Mk-1. The concept aims to achieve a payload capacity of 8 tons in a fully reusable form for lower Earth orbit. The vehicle has the capability to transport a payload of more than 24.8 tons into the lower Earth orbit when used in a disposable manner, and 22.8 tons when used in a partially reusable mode. According to their statement, the system can transport payloads to both geostationary transfer and trans-lunar injection orbits.
The business asserts that it can function within a cost range of $350–$2,000 per kilogram, which is far lower than the prices offered by launch vehicles such as Falcon 9 and represents only 1/35th of the average global launch price.
Manu J. Nair, CEO, EtherealX, said: “When bringing back the upper stages, the reentry heat is so much that the refurbishment cost is almost always more than the fresh vehicle itself. So, we built from scratch a completely new rocket engine cycle, which, coupled with the deployment system, allows us to operate our engines efficiently in both vacuum and atmosphere,”
About EtherealX
Founded in 2022 by Manu J Nair, Prashanth Sharma, and Shubhayu Sardar, At EtherealX, they design, develop, and build next-generation launch vehicles and spacecraft. The company was founded to significantly reduce space transportation costs, enable quick scientific growth, and foster civilizational progress.
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