13th June 2023, Mumbai:Azista BST Aerospace, an Indian space startup, witnessed a major achievement as their 80 kg satellite AFR was successfully deployed into orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket, on a dedicated rideshare mission, carried a total of 72 spacecraft, including CubeSats and MicroSats.
The Ahmedabad-based Azista BST Aerospace is a joint venture between Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd (holding a 70% stake) and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH (holding a 30% stake). The company specializes in satellite manufacturing and aims to establish a long-term presence in the industry without relying on venture capital funding.
The AFR satellite developed by Azista BST Aerospace offers a panchromatic imaging capability with a five-meter resolution and a swath of 70 kilometers. With these advanced features, the satellite has garnered potential customers in strategic and agriculture sectors. The acquired data and analytics hold significant value for customers located in Southeast Asia, India, and other regions.
Bharath Simha Reddy P., the Business Development Manager at Azista BST Aerospace, reveals that the company has plans for several missions in the next two to three years to showcase their satellite payloads. These missions will further demonstrate the capabilities and potential applications of their satellite technology.
Sunil Indurti, the Director of Azista BST Aerospace, brings a unique entrepreneurial journey to the space sector. After founding and exiting an ice cream parlour chain in Hyderabad, Indurti entered the satellite manufacturing industry. His aspiration to build a national brand led him to establish Azista BST Aerospace, initially serving as a vendor for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Setting up a factory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Azista BST Aerospace expanded its operations beyond ISRO, including the setup of weather stations for the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and other entities. The company aims to manufacture approximately 100 satellites per year, ranging in weight from 50 to 200 kilograms, solidifying their position in the satellite manufacturing domain.
Article by PRITESH PATEL