Bellatrix Aerospace to Develop a Space Taxi

Shashank Raj Gupta
Bellatrix Aerospace to Develop a Space Taxi

Question: Bellatrix Aerospace Company is based in which of the following country?
a) Belgium
b) Sweden
c) India
d) Netherlands
Answer: (c)
Related Facts:-

  • Bellatrix Aerospace an Indian startup company based in Bengaluru is going to develop a space taxi.
  • The space taxi is an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) that will transport small satellites into multiple orbits.
  • It is being considered as a pioneering break from convention.

The OTV will be launched in 2023 on the upper stage of the Vikram rocket.

  • It should be known that the Vikram Rocket is being developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace.
  • The vehicle is expected to reduce the cost of access to space for communication and earth observation satellites.
  • To get to space, small satellites are often tagged onto a bigger one.
  • When the orbit of a small satellite is different from the larger satellite, they have to burn fuel to reach the intended orbit.
  • An OTV can solve this problem because it is capable of working with multiple orbits.
  • Bellatrix co-founder Yashas Karanam informed that the OTV is like a bigger satellite taking smaller ones to different orbits.
  • Generally very small satellites normally go where the primary payload goes sometimes they don’t get suitable orbit slots.
  • The OTV will help place the satellite in a precise orbit while sharing a ride with other payloads.
  • Bellatrix Aerospace CEO Rohan Muralidhar said that the increasing demand for timely satellite constellation deployment in different orbits needs proper technologies.
  • Therefore rideshare missions has not only made OTVs attractive but also necessary.
  • With its lab in the Indian Institute of Science, Bellatrix had signed a MoU with Dhruva Space to work on joint space missions.
  • Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone had invested in Bellatrix through KA Enterprises.

By – Rajesh Tripathi

Links:-
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/bellatrix-aerospace-is-building-a-space-taxi-for-satellites/articleshow/80740925.cms
https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/bengaluru-firm-building-space-taxi-for-satellites-949139.html