India Sets 2030 Debris-Free Space Vision

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled India's vision to achieve debris-free space operations by 2030, positioning the country among early global pioneers in active orbital management. Virtually inaugurating Cosmoserve Space’s 14,800-square-foot "Base 1" facility in Hyderabad on November 5, 2026—alongside Telangana IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu—Dr. Singh highlighted the center's mandate to design, build, test, and operate robotic systems for active debris removal (ADR) and in-orbit servicing. Equipped with specialized orbital rendezvous and capture labs, microgravity simulation platforms, and satellite integration clean rooms, the facility strengthens domestic deep-tech capabilities in sustainable space infrastructure. Building on its rapid execution—highlighted by an in-space demonstration of soft robotic capture petals during Mission EMBRACE in July 2026—Cosmoserve Space has forged strategic ecosystem partnerships with Pixxel for satellite systems, Dhruv Aerospace Netherlands for propulsion, and Skyroot Aerospace for launch services. Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s space sector reforms, Dr. Singh noted that India’s space economy has expanded to nearly ₹85,237.76 crore ($9 billion) and is projected to reach ₹3.79–4.26 lakh crore ($40–45 billion) over the coming decade. Supported by institutional enablers like NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and IN-SPACe, the domestic space startup ecosystem has scaled from single digits to nearly 450 enterprises, prompting the Minister to invite deeper participation from both domestic and international investors. MTARTECH