Newsletter
Space technology company Ethereal Exploration Guild (EtherealX) has raised $20.5 million in a Series A funding round co-led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital, with participation from other investors.
The Bengaluru-based company aims to cut space travel costs, accelerate scientific research, and drive long-term human progress.
The deets: the funds will be used to build the company’s first fully reusable medium-lift rocket, Razor Crest Mk-1 that can carry nearly 25 tonnes to low Earth orbit (LEO).
In simple terms, the rocket can send very large or multiple satellites into space in one go, making launches cheaper, faster, and more efficient.
The company has already developed the two engines that will power the vehicle’s two stages within 3.5 years
The paint point it’s solving: current costs for private space launches range from $2,600 to over $10,000 per kilogram, depending on the mission. Ethereal aspires to lower that to $500 to $1,000 per kilogram using its specially designed rocket engine system and in-house testing infrastructure.
Big picture: despite strong investments and policies, India’s space industry currently accounts for just 2% of the global market. By 2030, this is expected to rise to 8%, and potentially 15% by 2047. Innovations like reusable rockets can accelerate this growth and help India compete with the world’s major space players.
