"We are building a Rapido, not a bus, for space"

Immanuel Louis, Co-founder and COO of Astrophel Aerospace, is attempting to rewire how India thinks about satellite launches-from large-ride dependency to faster, indigenous access to orbit. Alongside his co-founder, Louis is building a vertically integrated space-tech startup focused on Made-in-India rocket components, reusable engines, and sub-systems optimised for small and CubeSat missions.

- IMMANUEL LOUIS

In 2023, the bootstrapped company successfully test-fired a liquid rocket engine by adapting automotive-grade parts and designing cost-effective cryogenic valves and seals in-house.

In this interview with Pratima Harigunani, he explains how the company is modelling its approach on assembly-line efficiencies, reducing reliance on imported parts, and addressing the latency of satellite deployment through direct-to-orbit launch services. He also discusses the risks, lessons, and commercial potential of reusability, and why India's telecom sector must pay closer attention to emerging LEO-based connectivity models. Excerpts:

What sets Astrophel apart from other spacetech start-ups? Is indigenisation more than just a statement of pride in your case?

We initially chose the name Adastra Aerospace—Latin for “from hardships to the stars”—but later changed it to Astrophel when we found the name was already in use. The name change did not alter our core drive, which actually began with a simple dream. Surash, my co-founder, had applied to multiple large Indian space-tech firms and was rejected. But his passion did not waver—he kept designing rocket injectors during the COVID-19 lockdown. That is what inspired me to join him in building something of our own.

Back then, during our initial buildup days, we used to ride scooty, but our vision was always clear: to bring the automobile industry's assembly-line model into aerospace and make space technology more affordable and accessible.

Our differentiator in indigenisation lies in cryogenic seals and valves, which are typically expensive and imported. By building these in-house, we have not only significantly cut costs but also opened a new revenue stream through subcomponent manufacturing.