Chandana (centre) with business partner Bharath Daka (left) being briefed on operations by employees as engineers (top) work on a rocket at the Skyroot Aerospace facility in Hyderabad, India. — Photos: ©2023 The New York Times Company
WHEN it launched its first rocket in 1963, India was a poor country pursuing the world’s most cutting-edge technology. That projectile, its nose cone wheeled to the launchpad by a bicycle, put a small payload 200km above the Earth.
India was barely pretending to keep up with the United States and the Soviet Union. In today’s space race, it has found much surer footing.
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Centre of innovation
Pawan Kumar Chandana, center, the chief executive of Skyroot Aerospace, and his partner, Bharath Daka, left, at their facility in Hyderabad in June. — Photos: ©2023 The New York Times Company
Kranthi Chand, center, the head of strategy for Dhruva Space, speaking to employees at the company’s office in Hyderabad. Dhruva Space, which deploys satellites, was India’s first space start-up.
Engineers work at the Skyroot Aerospace facility in Hyderabad. India is not only the world’s most populous country but also the fastest-growing large economy and a thriving center of innovation.
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