Thu Jan 02 15:40:27 UTC 2025: ## Indian Startup Successfully Test Fires Green Propulsion System in Space
**Mumbai, January 2, 2025** – Manastu Space, an Indian space technology startup founded by IIT Bombay alumni, successfully test-fired its first green propulsion system, VYOM 2U, in space on December 31, 2024. The test, conducted aboard ISRO’s PSLV C60 POEM-4 platform, marks a significant milestone in the development of environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional, toxic rocket propellants.
The VYOM 2U system, developed in collaboration with IIT Bombay faculty, completed a successful 30-second firing, demonstrating its ability to perform critical maneuvers, including tilting the platform by 24 degrees and spinning it at 0.5°/s before regaining control. Further testing will accumulate over 500 seconds of firing time during the next 1500 hours in orbit. This achievement elevates the technology’s readiness level to TRL-8, signifying its readiness for commercial deployment.
Manastu Space CEO Tushar Jadhav expressed gratitude to ISRO and IN-SPACe for providing the POEM platform, a cost-effective solution enabling startups to test their technologies in space. He highlighted the company’s plans for commercialization, team expansion, and a future funding round, building on a successful $3 million pre-Series A raise in 2023.
CTO Ashtesh Kumar emphasized the system’s robustness, having withstood approximately 400 hours in orbit, showcasing its suitability for long-duration missions. The successful test represents a major advancement in sustainable space propulsion, paving the way for cleaner and more efficient space exploration. The POEM-4 mission, carrying a total of 24 experiments, also included other technology demonstrations from ISRO and other private entities.
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