1 month ago
India's First Homegrown Satellite Battery Earns Flight Heritage
India has made a big space science breakthrough.
A company in Hyderabad, TakeMe2Space, built a new battery called PowerBank-50 that can power tiny satellites.
It flew on a rocket called Vikram-1 on July 18, 2024, and worked perfectly in space.
Because it worked, it earned a special title called flight heritage, which means it has proven it can survive the hard conditions of space.
The Indian Finance Minister said it was brilliant, and the company’s boss said it shows the battery is ready for any satellite.
The battery is light, can last up to five years, and costs less than similar batteries from other countries.
Hyderabad startup TakeMe2Space’s PowerBank-50 became India’s first home‑made satellite battery to earn flight heritage status.
The battery powered a payload on Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram‑1 rocket during Mission Aagaman, launched July 18, 2024.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman praised the breakthrough, noting India’s previous reliance on imported batteries.
PowerBank‑50 stores over 50 Wh in a 380‑gram unit, can operate up to five years in low‑Earth orbit, and is priced at ₹1,04,900.
The achievement marks India’s third country to have a private company reach orbit, boosting domestic satellite manufacturing.
- Who
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, founder and CEO Ronak Kumar Samantray, and the companies TakeMe2Space and Skyroot Aerospace
- What
- India's first indigenously developed satellite battery, PowerBank-50, received flight heritage status after powering a payload on Vikram-1
- Where
- India, Hyderabad-based TakeMe2Space; launch from Indian space facilities
- When
- Launch on July 18, 2024; announcement on July 31, 2024
- Why
- To reduce dependence on imported batteries, lower costs, and strengthen domestic satellite manufacturing
Key facts
- Battery model
- PowerBank-50
- Energy capacity
- 50 Wh
- Weight
- 380 g
- Price
- ₹1,04,900
- Launch vehicle
- Vikram-1
- Launch date
- July 18, 2024
- Flight heritage status
- Yes
Quotes
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
India’s finance minister and chief minister of Delhi
“Every satellite mission lives or dies by its power system, which is why nobody wants to be the first to fly a new battery.”
wionews.com
“Brilliant!”
wionews.com
Sources
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