WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.639 --> 00:00:04.360 Did you imagine that you will be actually launching rockets 2 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:05.000 into space? 3 00:00:05.280 --> 00:00:08.160 Never? Never imagined you know, I'll get into rockets. 4 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:11.199 Launching the first ever rocket into space. What was the 5 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:11.960 experience like? 6 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:15.080 Oh? Wow, I think it's probably the most fantastic experience 7 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:15.599 of my life. 8 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.359 Y rockets succeed and Y rockets fain. 9 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:23.559 Bold, one bolt not working, some electrical connector snapping off, 10 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:25.160 or some component not being built. 11 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:28.879 Well, when you launched wikram s to space, what was 12 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:30.600 the aim behind that? 13 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:33.960 Space is a five hundred billion dollar business local the 14 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.679 World Economic Forum. My estimate is that it is going 15 00:00:36.679 --> 00:00:40.759 to become one point eight trillion dollar economy by twenty 16 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:41.200 thirty five. 17 00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:43.840 Where does the engineer stop thinking and where does the 18 00:00:43.960 --> 00:00:45.200 entrepreneurs start thinking? 19 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:48.600 I look at business also as engineering. Have you gone 20 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:49.320 to space yet? 21 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:50.200 No? 22 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:54.240 I don't know. There are very few people a couple 23 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:55.920 of people you've gone from in it. 24 00:00:55.960 --> 00:00:58.399 So yeah, so that's exactly what it is. So space 25 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:00.600 is not yet open for all. Know how much time 26 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:05.840 it takes to go to space? No, make a guess, maybe. 27 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:09.319 A few hours, just take ten minutes, ten minutes. 28 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:12.680 Yeah, So for example, it took me one and a 29 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:15.599 half hour to come here from the airport, yes, and 30 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:16.799 so that space is closer. 31 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:27.719 Hello and welcome. You're watching the Business Today podcast. I'm 32 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:31.640 Sakshi Patra and today I take you with me to space. Well, 33 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:36.200 india space story is changing faster than ever before. Until 34 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:40.400 very recently, you would remember that all our space missions 35 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:42.760 were entirely driven by the government. 36 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:44.920 But off late things have changed. 37 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:49.480 India's private startups have now started to build rockets and sending. 38 00:01:49.159 --> 00:01:50.879 Statellites to the space as well. 39 00:01:51.079 --> 00:01:53.400 And there is one company which is right at the 40 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:57.599 center of this shift, and that company is sky Root Aerospace. 41 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.959 This is the company that became the first ever startup 42 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.640 company to have launched a rocket into space called wickram 43 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.159 S back in the year twenty twenty two, and very recently, 44 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:10.840 this is the same company that's become the first ever 45 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.039 startup within space tech to become a unicorn as well. 46 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:18.400 And to share with us the incredible journey of Skyroot 47 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:22.159 Aerospace and to take us forward into a new orbit, 48 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:24.800 we have with us a very special guest joining in. 49 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:29.240 Let's welcome Paka, the co founder and CEE of Skyroot Aerospace. 50 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:30.000 Welcome to your power. 51 00:02:30.199 --> 00:02:31.400 Thank you, pleasure to be here. 52 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:32.280 Thank you so much. 53 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.039 It's been a pleasure to have you with us, and 54 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:36.919 it's an incredible story that you have. Truly give me 55 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:40.599 an understanding. You started out being an engineer in Iit 56 00:02:41.919 --> 00:02:44.639 tell me what was it like. Did you ever dream 57 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:47.199 then and did you imagine that you will be actually 58 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:50.400 launching a company, starting a company that will be launching 59 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:53.039 rockets into space, and that will become the first ever 60 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:56.280 company to do so outside of the government in the country. 61 00:02:56.680 --> 00:02:59.599 Never never imagined, you know, I'll get into rockets. But 62 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.319 I think destiny, you know, took me there. I think 63 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:06.400 I'm really excited and very fortunate to be doing what 64 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:09.639 I'm doing. And but but I wanted to build a 65 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.879 company since childhood. That has been my dream. But never 66 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.479 imagine that I get into building a rocket company. But yeah, 67 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:17.879 so I think it's really exciting to be here. 68 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:20.039 Absolutely, So tell me. 69 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:23.000 You know, you also went on to Isro to become 70 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:26.400 a scientist after I t so in fact. 71 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:30.000 With you know, your co founder there at Isroe. 72 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:32.800 I wanted to understand what came into your mind that 73 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.520 you wanted to both leave a stable government job and 74 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:41.280 probably step out to create something of your own at 75 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:44.479 a time when private missions were barely existing in the country. 76 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:47.319 Yeah. No, I think because I had an ambition to 77 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:51.319 start a company since childhood. You always there's always that 78 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:53.840 bug at the startup bug at the you know, at 79 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:57.000 the back. But I was real, really super excited to 80 00:03:57.039 --> 00:03:59.280 be part of the space program. I was, you know, 81 00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:02.159 as part of the very exciting program, the India's largest 82 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:04.919 rocket program at is STROW. And then, like you know, 83 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:06.560 a one fine day has got a thought like if 84 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:09.080 I can't we do this because really, really India has 85 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:12.120 a very strong foundation for space thanks to SHROW, and 86 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:17.079 the wide markets are opening up globally and it's growing 87 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.639 at the fastest space. So I thought it was a 88 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:21.519 phenomenal opportunity to start something. But we started at a 89 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:23.879 time when there was no policy, there was no funding, environment, 90 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:25.759 little nothing. We took the leap of faith. 91 00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:28.800 It's paying off absolutely, it is. 92 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.639 I mean, launching the first ever rocket into space back 93 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.360 in the year twenty twenty two, what was the experience Like. 94 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.519 Oh wow, I think it's probably the most fantastic experience 95 00:04:38.519 --> 00:04:41.079 of my life. You know, I was right there the 96 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:44.000 mission control before the rocket takes off, and I could 97 00:04:44.199 --> 00:04:47.639 I still remember the mixed emotion there you know, emotion 98 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:50.759 of excitement because we're doing something historic, but also a 99 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:53.120 lot of tension because zillion things can go wrong in 100 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:55.160 a rocket launch and you know, it's being broadcasted live 101 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:58.079 across the globe. So it was a very crazy experience. 102 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:03.160 And finally, you know, as the rocket took off and 103 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.160 it was it was going in the right direction, everything stable. 104 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:10.319 I mean, I felt like super excited and probably one 105 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:12.839 of the best experiences of my life. I still remember, 106 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:16.639 you know, the whole experience because typically I had a 107 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:19.839 lot of dreams of rockets failing before, and you know, 108 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.519 when actually goes up, well, incredible experience. 109 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:28.680 So what's the difference between why rockets succeed and why 110 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:29.519 rockets fail? 111 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:32.920 Yeah, it's so I always think that, you know, the difference 112 00:05:32.959 --> 00:05:35.879 between success and failure is very very thin, you know, 113 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:40.279 very very thin. And typically, you know, some of the 114 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.199 most trivial things can go wrong in a rocket, like 115 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.720 you know, bolt one bolt not working, you know, so 116 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:49.040 some electrical connector snapping off, you know, or like one 117 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:52.480 of the systems not working, some filter not you know, 118 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.199 doing well, or some component not being built well. You know, 119 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:58.959 the very very trivial things typically go wrong and that's 120 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:01.120 what is rocket science is about it. It has to 121 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:03.879 be perfect, even there's no there is you have to 122 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:06.759 build in such a way that nothing can go wrong 123 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:07.600 every time. 124 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:10.519 So give me an unerstanding for our wider audiences. When 125 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.680 you launched wikrm s to space, what was the aim 126 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:17.720 behind that and what has it done after getting launched? 127 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:20.600 Yeah, so typically I think you know, many people think 128 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:24.720 actually space is of the domain of governments, but in 129 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:27.720 fact space is a five hundred billion dollar business global 130 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.720 you know, it's like, in fact, on the fastest growing 131 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:34.759 industries and in fact, the World Economic Forum estimates that 132 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:37.160 it is going to become one point eight trillion dollar 133 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:41.000 economy by you know, twenty thirty five. Space is going 134 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:44.000 to become and in fact, the world's most valuable private 135 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:46.240 companies a space company, you know, which is space X. So, 136 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:49.199 so I think that shows the potential of space and 137 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:54.199 for that, you know, the center of the space industries 138 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:57.439 is rocket launching, where you need to launch satellites to 139 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.199 space to be able to give those services, which is 140 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:03.120 like a variety of services across the globe. Especially one 141 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:08.319 of the biggest things is communication from space, even television, GPS, 142 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:10.839 you know, Earth something on Earth observation where you click 143 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:13.800 images from space and multiple industries use it, you know, 144 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.839 including the government. It's a pretty large industry. And the 145 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.240 center of it is actually the rocket launch, you know, 146 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:23.360 going from Earth to space and then opening up the 147 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.240 you know space for business. So that's that's where it is. 148 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:30.279 And for that building a rocket which can launch satellites 149 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:34.439 to orbit is center to space economy, and that's what 150 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:36.759 we wanted to you know, build you know, one of 151 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:38.279 some of the best rockets in the world which can 152 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:40.720 launch satellite stob It was the hard Leny companies and 153 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:43.759 Hardleny countries doing you know, launchers, and the world needs 154 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.360 more access to space because you need to create connectivity 155 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.079 for billions of people. And now you know we're talking 156 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.680 about like even data centers in space, you know, with 157 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:54.279 the lowest cost of compute is in space because you 158 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:56.560 have almost like ten times more energy in space than 159 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:01.040 on Earth, right so so so space will actually transform 160 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.079 lives right here on Earth. And then it's a very 161 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:08.680 attractive large business with high barriers of entry and rocket 162 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:10.720 launches like at the center of it, and the most 163 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:13.920 toughest nut to crack. And that's what we started off 164 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.240 with and so we wanted to have one test rocket 165 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:19.439 where we can build with less capital very quickly to 166 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:23.319 demonstrate rocket technology. And for that we build W Croms 167 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.439 which is India's first private rocket, and we built in 168 00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:28.160 record time from design to launch in two years and 169 00:08:28.199 --> 00:08:31.079 successful in the very first attem. Typically rocket launchers don't 170 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:33.840 go well in the first attem and it went went 171 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.519 to speed, cross eighty kilometers and touch space and became 172 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:41.399 very successful. And then it was all done by you know, 173 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:45.879 just over one hundred people team Wow and right in India, 174 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:49.559 fully designed, developed, manufactured in India. We became one of 175 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.240 very few companies who have launched the rocket to space globally. 176 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.799 And then the purpose of it is to test technologies 177 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:58.120 which can go into the commercial rocket which can put 178 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:00.919 satellites into orbit. So it's much smaller rock just to imagine, 179 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:03.519 it's something like a two storyed building tall rocket, but 180 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.759 it tests majority of the technologies which can go on 181 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.039 to a bigger rocket which can put satellites into orbit. 182 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:12.559 And that okay, So rocket as high as two floors is. 183 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.039 A small rocket is a small dog. 184 00:09:14.080 --> 00:09:16.080 So what's the you know, large rocket. 185 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:18.519 So now we're getting to become one which can actually 186 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.799 put a satellite in orbit. And it not only goes 187 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:22.559 to space, but it goes to orbit. That means like 188 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.000 it crosses even goes beyond four hundred kilometers and puts 189 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.120 a satellite at a very large velocity so that it 190 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:30.440 rotates around the Earth. So that's the purpose of an 191 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:33.159 orbital rocket, what we call it. India's first private orbital 192 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:36.279 rocket is become one and we're going to launch soon 193 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:39.000 in a few weeks. And that is seven story building tall. 194 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:42.399 And you need such such a big rocket to put 195 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.919 a satellite in norbit and this is like some of 196 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:45.639 the smallest rockets in the world, you know. 197 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.720 So, and how long has it taken you to make 198 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:49.679 that already? Yeah, still in the making. 199 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:51.960 Yeah, so it took a development of around four five 200 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:55.000 years and which is one of the quickest globally. Again 201 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:58.720 and then and then you know, we're set to launch soon. 202 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:02.720 And what is difference between SubOrbit and orbit? You said 203 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:05.720 bichrom S was in SubOrbit and one will be in 204 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:07.360 the orbit, So what's the difference there? 205 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:10.240 So so you know, so if you want to if 206 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.360 you want a satellite to rotate around the Earth, which 207 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:16.320 is called an orbit, you need the rocket needs to 208 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:19.000 insert the satellite at something like you know, eight kilometers 209 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.559 a second. The rocket has to give that speed to 210 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:24.360 the satellite, and you should take it beyond four one 211 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:27.279 kilometers so that there is no atmosphere at all there 212 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:29.639 and and then like you know, leave it with that 213 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:32.320 velocity of eight kilometers per second. Then it rotates around 214 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:35.399 an orbit. And in an orbit you can stay for 215 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.039 several years. The satellite stays for several years giving services 216 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:40.200 down to Earth, and it has a sign optic view 217 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.919 what we call a sign uptic cure. With that height, 218 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:45.080 you can you can see watch Earth, you can give 219 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:48.559 connectivity to Earth for a very wide region, etcetera, etcetera. 220 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:51.799 So so I think, so that is orbital rocket. So 221 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.399 rocket needs more energy to go to that altitude and 222 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.919 give that much velocity to the satellite. And sub orbit 223 00:10:57.000 --> 00:11:00.279 means just you know, it just touches space. I mean, 224 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:02.360 what we have done is a suborbital space launch where 225 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:06.200 it just touches space. You know, NASA defines eighty kilometers 226 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:09.559 as space. So our rocket reached eighty nine kilometers, It 227 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:12.639 crossed that you know, eighty kilometers line and then mark, 228 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:15.720 and then it just touched space. And it's more like it. 229 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:18.000 For testing. We launch the rockede, but we use the 230 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:20.639 same materials, we use the same propulsion, we use the 231 00:11:20.679 --> 00:11:23.919 same electronics, you know, we use the same simulation. So 232 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.360 so all that a lot of you know, almost eighty 233 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:29.039 percent of that tech got proved in that particular launch. 234 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:31.279 And then we're taking the learnings to a much bigger rockete, 235 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:33.559 which is seven story building tall, which can actually put 236 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:35.639 a satellite into orbit. So here the sub orbit means 237 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:38.080 it just touches space and falls down. It doesn't create 238 00:11:38.120 --> 00:11:41.200 that velocity or the altitude, you know, which can put 239 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:43.279 in satellite run around death. 240 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.799 Okay, but you know, you did say that there are 241 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.200 very few companies and very few countries that have launched 242 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:53.440 rockets so far. So why is there this gap and 243 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:55.519 what were you able to fulfill and how are you 244 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:56.639 able to fill that gap? 245 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:59.879 Sure? So, so, as we all say, it's rocket science, 246 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:03.080 so it's very very difficult to build and launch rockets 247 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:05.559 to space is some of the toughest feats in engineering, 248 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:08.559 and in fact, like the biggest challenge is that the 249 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:11.159 rocket can be only tested when you can actually launch. 250 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.159 You know, you can test so many things on the ground, 251 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.799 but the real environment is the actual test. And then 252 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.360 you know, you don't have many chances. You have to 253 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.759 actually build it and you know, launch it and very 254 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.519 complex and you know, and Earth's gravity well is so 255 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.799 big that you know, you need so much energy to 256 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:29.519 launch to our bit right, So it's very tough technology 257 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:31.759 to crack. And in fact, India has a history of 258 00:12:32.039 --> 00:12:34.440 starting the space program in nineteen sixty two when doctor 259 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:37.360 wickham Sarabai started in a very small church with few 260 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:40.960 inspired scientists, and I saw the space program started. And 261 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:43.600 there's been more than sixty years. And now we went 262 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:46.039 to Moon, we went to March. We build huge rockets, 263 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:48.720 we build satellites, big, big satellites. So I think there's 264 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:51.159 been an incredible journey. And we build an ecosystem you know, 265 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:54.559 around it for the last sixty years so and very 266 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:57.320 few nations were able to build it sustain it. And 267 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:59.559 also you need great geography for launching. You need to 268 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.200 actually on you have a coast so that the rocket 269 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.960 stages fall in the sea in safe zones and better. 270 00:13:05.159 --> 00:13:07.480 Is that the reason why many countries cannot. 271 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:10.320 So many countries, yeah, so many countries are landlocked. There 272 00:13:10.360 --> 00:13:14.159 is one challenge and many countries did not take the 273 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:17.679 challenging path to build a rocket also, right, So typically 274 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.399 if you see like the larger economies doing it and 275 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:22.960 like you know, whether it's US, Russia, China, you know, 276 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:26.399 so they are the ones who pioneered pioneered this and 277 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:30.200 so India, in fact, doctor Sarabai's vision was India should 278 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:32.840 be second to none and an application of advanced technology 279 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:35.799 to common man. And he believed that space can affect 280 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:38.480 the life of common man, like whether it's television, whether 281 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:41.840 it's radio, you know, and then started the program in 282 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:44.039 nineteen sixties where many people did not dare to start 283 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:46.480 a program, and it takes that much time also, you know, 284 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:50.000 to get to that evolution. So India took early leaps 285 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:52.679 in this and and then that's how where we are. 286 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.320 We are among you know, very few nations, maybe eight nations, 287 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.480 we have the capacity to launch a rocket to orbit. 288 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:00.679 And we have blessed with the great geography, blessed with 289 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.320 wonderful engineers and technocrats in the country right who have 290 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:07.559 did it, who took this path, and we have government 291 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:11.559 supporting it over decades. So it's a very very rare feat, 292 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:14.480 you know, which happened and I think we're building on 293 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.279 top of it. I think you know, we are not there. 294 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.159 Skyroude will not be able to do what we're doing. 295 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:20.440 We thought their CoSystem below the last sixty years by. 296 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:24.440 So absolutely so you're launching Wickrem one in just two 297 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.519 weeks from now. 298 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:28.480 We're very excited for it, all the very best. 299 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.159 It is almost one, you know, moment that the entire 300 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.639 nation and the world will be watching very very closely 301 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.080 as well. 302 00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:37.519 What's the feeling like when you do something like that? 303 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:40.039 Oh? Wow, I mean like it. It's very satisfying, in fact, 304 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:44.799 very satisfying to flag off the rocket from our facility 305 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:47.399 to the lawn site, which we have done a few 306 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:51.440 weeks ago, Okay, And I mean it's I really really 307 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.720 know how difficult it is to actually design rocket, manufacture it, 308 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.759 developed it, tested and make it ready to even sput 309 00:14:57.799 --> 00:15:00.600 to the lawn site and start operations there. Such an 310 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:04.159 incredible milestone, you know, because we know how difficult. It is, 311 00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:06.639 very satisfying to see all come together, you know, so 312 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.600 typically it takes sometimes decades even to do this, you know, 313 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:12.320 and things go wrong and you know you need to 314 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:14.679 fix it. Sometimes you get stuck and getting to this 315 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:18.720 milestone itself is very satisfying, and then I think next 316 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:21.360 step now it's going to get integrated at the lawn site, 317 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.399 stacked on the launch pad and take off in a 318 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:26.360 few weeks. So really looking forward to the major milestone. 319 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.919 It's not only major milestone for sky Route and India, 320 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:32.559 is also a globally major milestone because hardly very few 321 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:34.240 companies in the world have achieved it so far. 322 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:36.120 How many rockets have got launch so far? 323 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.240 Like from one yeah, so, so globally they're like around 324 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:42.240 like you know, five six companies for launching to orbit 325 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:45.840 on a Out of that, only two companies are regularly 326 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:49.039 launching to orbit. Space Sex is among the leading among them. 327 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:51.799 And so that's where we are, like we're getting into 328 00:15:51.799 --> 00:15:54.240 a league of light list of very few companies five 329 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:57.480 companies yeah, yeah, yeah so and then like that makes 330 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:00.759 us also like you know, doing it from a startup 331 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:04.879 with the very humble beginnings, and doing it from a 332 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.720 country when there was no space policy and the starting 333 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:12.000 opened up recently and even there's no funding environment actually 334 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.879 to start off with, and now it's like a very 335 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:17.440 very burgeoning funding environment right now everything is coming together 336 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:21.720 and then doing it and taking it global, and you 337 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:25.919 know doing it is very, very incredible and very satisfying journey. 338 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:29.039 Absolutely, you raised recent funds and that turned you into 339 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:32.360 a unicorn as well, another feat and the first startup 340 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:35.000 in the space tech firm to achieve that feat as well. 341 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.679 How did that happen? 342 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:41.879 Did you very easily convince your investors? Were there too 343 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.799 many investors? Because at such you know, a space where 344 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:49.399 there are very few players, you almost have a monopoly, 345 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.840 you know, in this kind of a situation, and all 346 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:56.080 the investors would be looking at your prior success and 347 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:58.960 maybe looking at what opportunities are existing. You already talked 348 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:01.360 about the numbers that kind of market that it is 349 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:01.960 growing to be. 350 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:04.559 So was there a lot of fight and were you. 351 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:08.480 Choosing the investors rather than investors choosing you? 352 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.680 No? In fact, like I've been I always say that, 353 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:14.400 like you know, for us, raising capital, raising funds has 354 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:17.319 been like rocket science, you know, because because it's it's 355 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:21.039 a very new sector, very few investors have exposure to this. 356 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:25.319 So actually, like you know, having you know, conversations about 357 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.200 very deep technology, no precedents before, very few companies in 358 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:31.359 the world you know doing it globally. It's a difficult, 359 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:34.200 a tough challenge even for investors to even fathom that 360 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:36.640 something of that can happen and become into a very 361 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:39.400 successful business. So I think it's been a very challenging 362 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:42.519 journey to be able to cross that bridge. And I 363 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:47.279 think until Wickrems launch, I think we had a tough 364 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:50.680 time raising capital. But after that it became like, you know, 365 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.640 fairly I would say, like not that difficult, but still difficult, 366 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:57.920 but not that difficult because that proved a lot of 367 00:17:57.960 --> 00:18:01.880 capability and we've done it in record time, record costs, 368 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.440 and we approved that you know, engineering is really works 369 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:07.880 in flight. And so I think after that it has 370 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:11.920 been relatively similar, but still challenging. And and then like 371 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:15.359 I think we I always believe that uh, you know, 372 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:18.799 fundraising and there, whether it's you know, valuations, et cetera, 373 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:22.000 as all by product of the good work, focused work 374 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.680 which is happening. And like you know, how we are, 375 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:26.839 you know, get getting ready for the future, and very 376 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:29.839 fortunate that we have wonderful investors backing our vision and 377 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:32.599 our journey and many of them were new to the 378 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.799 space sector as well, and you know, so and they're 379 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.160 all taking the bet on the space sector, taking a bed, 380 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:40.559 many of them first time uh in the country as 381 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.680 as well, Like you know, investing in something deep tech, 382 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:46.440 it's it's it's just something happening very for the first time. 383 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:50.359 I would say, absolutely, So this is an exciting space. 384 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:53.680 Is there any ask from your investors at this stage? 385 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:57.759 Usually investors when they invest in startups, they always look 386 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:01.640 at ruh, They always oka at, you know, how fast 387 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:05.759 can their money double, triple, multifold. What's their ask in 388 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:08.240 this space since they're also experimenting for the first time 389 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:12.000 and they know that the risks are fairly large, larger 390 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:14.400 than any other sector, that you would be. 391 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.119 Yeah, yeah, And in fact, like I think we had 392 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:19.319 a very I would say, like the most incredible set 393 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:24.319 of investors because the first three four years were mainly 394 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.920 funded by entrepreneurs who made it a big you know, 395 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:31.240 like so we had like you know, angel investors who 396 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:34.519 made it build successful companies backing us and the initial 397 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:36.680 years you know, and they're in for the long run, 398 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:39.200 They're in for the journey, you know. And then from 399 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.240 there you have some of the world's largest funds. We 400 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:44.920 you know, graduated to like you know, get the interest 401 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.599