In an era where the boundaries of space exploration are rapidly expanding, Digantara Research and Technologies stands at the forefront, developing critical infrastructure for the emerging space economy. Founded in 2018 by Anirudh Sharma, Rahul Rawat, and Tanveer Ahmed, the Bengaluru-based startup is transforming space situational awareness (SSA) and space domain awareness (SDA) with cutting-edge technology and a bold vision for the future.
From College Project to Space Tech Pioneer
The origins of Digantara trace back to the founders’ college days in Punjab, where Sharma and Rawat began exploring the concept of SSA after learning about a satellite club run by Ahmed in Bengaluru. By 2020, with engineering degrees in hand and early incubation support from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the trio committed full-time to the venture, aiming to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of modern space exploration – the safe and efficient management of orbital traffic.
The Need for Space Situational Awareness
Today, there are over 11,000 active satellites in Earth’s orbit, a number projected to grow exponentially as space becomes more accessible. Sharma, the company’s CEO, compares their mission to building a ‘Google Maps for space,’ providing precise and real-time awareness of objects in orbit. This is critical, as unlike aviation or maritime navigation, space lacks universally accepted traffic management protocols, making collision avoidance and space debris mitigation increasingly vital.
Key Technologies and Infrastructure
To address this gap, Digantara is developing two flagship software platforms – Space-MAP (Space Mission Assurance Platform) and STARS (Space Threat Assessment and Response Suite). These platforms are designed to offer real-time tracking, risk assessment, and collision avoidance capabilities, providing essential situational awareness to both commercial and defense operators.
In addition to software, the company is building a robust sensor network, combining space-based sensors and ground-based telescopic observatories. The first of these observatories is being established in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, leveraging its clear skies and strategic location for enhanced space object tracking. This facility will form part of a broader, globally distributed sensor network aimed at providing comprehensive, real-time SSA data.
Strategic Partnerships and Global Reach
Digantara’s innovations have already attracted international interest. In 2023, the company inaugurated a 25,000 sq ft assembly and testing facility in Bengaluru, positioning itself to scale production as demand for its technologies grows. Notably, the company has secured a contract with Space Machines Company, an Australian in-space servicing provider, under the MAITRI initiative (Mission for Australia-India Technology, Research and Innovation). This partnership, supported by an AUD 8.5 million grant from the Australian government, will see Digantara supply advanced optical sensors to support a wide range of space missions.
Future Outlook – Automating Space Operations
Looking ahead, Digantara aims to offer its software platforms on the cloud, enabling seamless integration into satellite operations and mission control systems. This will allow customers to automate significant aspects of satellite fleet management, reducing operational overhead and improving response times in critical situations.
For defense applications, the first version of the STARS platform has already been deployed, marking a significant milestone as the company looks to expand its capabilities in space security and situational awareness.