Few people get the chance to change the course of technological growth and leave their mark as pioneers in space travel. Among them is Pawan Kumar Chandana, a former ISRO scientist and IIT-Kharagpur alumni.
His journey becomes a cosmic story as it unfolds, a captivating tale of vision and perseverance. It is evidence of this inventive and aspirational spirit.
Equipped with a mechanical engineering bachelor’s degree and a thermal science and engineering master’s degree, Pawan Kumar Chandana substantially contributed to India’s space journey during his six years of influential service to ISRO.
At the Rocket Design Centre (VSSC), he demonstrated his abilities by contributing significantly to the construction of the GSLV Mk-III, the largest rocket made in India. Pawan received two innovation prizes for his outstanding achievement during this enormous undertaking.
Fueled by an unquenchable curiosity, Pawan set out on an expedition that would reshape India’s space capabilities. Together with fellow IITian and former ISRO coworker Naga Bharat Daka, he cofounded Skyroot Aerospace, which launched India’s leading private space enterprise.
The development of India’s first private rocket, Vikram-S, marked a turning point in the history of Skyroot Aerospace and sent shockwaves through the aerospace innovation community. Driven by a strategic partnership with ISRO to provide vital services, the fully in-house-designed Vikram-S rocket took out from Sriharikota on November 18, 2022, bearing three tiny satellites.
Pawan’s business acumen paid off as Skyroot Aerospace raised a total of $95 million, with Temasek contributing a recent pre-Series C capital of Rs 225 crore ($27 million). During the Series B round in 2022, the company’s valuation soared to nearly Rs 1,304 crore (around $165 million), highlighting its crucial role in India’s developing private space sector.
With the industry expected to reach $100 billion in market value by 2040, Pawan Kumar Chandana’s Skyroot Aerospace is one of the key players pushing India to the forefront of space exploration worldwide.
Who knows? It might even prove to be India’s equivalent of SpaceX, providing Elon Musk’s $150 billion space enterprise with fierce competition.
