India's Space Pioneer

About Kalpana-1 Mission

India's pioneering fully reusable rocket, designed to revolutionize space access and sustainability

Explore Mission Details

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

To develop and demonstrate India's first fully reusable orbital launch vehicle, reducing space access costs by 80% while increasing launch frequency and reliability. The Kalpana-1 mission aims to make space more accessible for scientific research, commercial applications, and national security needs.

We're committed to advancing sustainable space exploration through reusable technology, minimizing space debris, and establishing India as a global leader in commercial space transportation.

Our Vision

To create a future where routine, affordable access to space enables new possibilities for humanity - from space-based manufacturing and asteroid mining to interplanetary colonization.

We envision a world where India leads in sustainable space technology, inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers while contributing to global space exploration efforts.

Mission Budget

The Kalpana-1 mission represents a strategic investment in India's space future, with detailed allocation across critical development areas.

Budget Allocation

Budget Breakdown

Propulsion System Development ₹22 Lakh
Structural & Materials R&D ₹3 Lakh
Avionics & Control Systems ₹7Lakh
Testing & Validation ₹14 Lakh
Launch Infrastructure ₹4 Lakh
Mission Operations ₹23 Lakh
Contingency & R&D ₹40 Lakh

Total Mission Budget: ₹1.13 Crores

Funded through public-private partnership with 90% private investment and 10% government grants Planing

Project Growth & Investment Timeline

Mission Timeline

The detailed roadmap for Kalpana-1 development from initial concept to operational deployment.

December 2025

Initial Prototype Testing

Begin comprehensive testing of reusable rocket prototype with ground tests and low-altitude flight demonstrations. Validate basic flight systems and recovery mechanisms.

  • Static fire tests of main engines
  • Low-altitude hover tests (up to 1km)
  • Parachute recovery system validation
  • Avionics integration testing
October 2026

Suborbital Flight Tests

Advance to suborbital flight testing to validate re-entry systems, thermal protection, and precision landing capabilities.

  • High-altitude flights (up to 10km)
  • Re-entry heat shield testing
  • Grid fin control system validation
  • Precision landing algorithm testing
December 2026

Orbital Test Flight

First orbital test flight to demonstrate full mission capability including payload deployment and controlled re-entry.

  • Full duration engine burn test
  • Orbital insertion validation
  • Payload deployment mechanism test
  • De-orbit and re-entry sequence
March 2027

Final Testing Phase

Comprehensive testing of all systems including rapid reusability demonstrations and multiple consecutive launches.

  • Rapid turnaround testing (0.30-hour target)
  • Multiple consecutive launches
  • Extended mission duration tests
  • Failure mode analysis
September-November 2027

Mission Completion

Final validation tests completed. Kalpana-1 certified for commercial operations and ready for customer payloads.

  • Regulatory certification
  • Customer payload integration
  • Launch site operational readiness
  • Mission control handover

Mission Partners

Strategic collaborations powering the Kalpana-1 mission forward.

Soon....

Advanced Technologies

Innovative systems and technologies powering the Kalpana-1 reusable rocket.

Propulsion System

Advanced Propulsion

  • Methane-LOX staged combustion engines
  • 3D-printed combustion chambers
  • Deep throttle capability (40%-100%)
  • Multiple restart capability
  • Autonomous engine health monitoring
Materials Science

Advanced Materials

  • Carbon-carbon composite heat shields
  • Aluminum-lithium alloy tanks
  • Ceramic matrix composites for hot sections
  • Self-healing thermal protection system
  • Lightweight grid fins for control
Avionics

Avionics & Control

  • Triple-redundant flight computers
  • Machine learning-based guidance
  • Optical navigation for precision landing
  • Real-time trajectory optimization
  • Secure encrypted telemetry