Dhruva Space, MAHE partner to set up ASCENT space technology centre

Dhruva Space and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education have partnered to establish the ASCENT Centre to advance space technology research. The collaboration will focus on CubeSat missions, indigenous satellite platforms, student training and an interplanetary technology demonstration mission by 2035.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space Private Limited and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) have entered into a strategic partnership to co-develop ASCENT (Advanced Space Capability, Engineering & New-space Technologies) Centre at MAHE campus.

The ASCENT will bring academia and industry together to translate next-generation space technologies into operational applications.

---

It envisions the development and operation of at least 3 1U–6U CubeSat missions by 2028, followed by the deployment of a swarm constellation of femto satellites, a fully operational Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Centre, and indigenous bus designs, payloads, and modular satellite platforms by 2030.

It aims to undertake at least one interplanetary technology demonstration mission by 2035.

Dhruva Space Chief Operations Officer and Co-founder Krishna Teja Penamakuru said: “Through ASCENT, we are establishing a CoE where ideas can mature from research to mission-ready solutions in close collaboration with industry”.

MAHE Vice Chancellor Dr Sharath K Rao said the university students will have the unique opportunity to work on real satellite missions, gain hands-on experience with industry-grade infrastructure, and learn by solving real engineering challenges.