SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Likely To Meet Spacetech Startups During India Visit

SpaceX’s chief executive officer Elon Musk is expected to meet with India’s burgeoning spacetech startups during his visit to the country on April 22.

A number of startups, including Skyroot Aerospace, Dhruva Space, Piersight, Digantara, SatSure and KaleidEO among others were invited by the government for talks with Musk.

Although the exact plans for the meeting are still not out, Musk is expected to speak to the startups to learn more about what they’re working on, as per Moneycontrol’s report. The startups are expected to showcase the technologies they are working on to Musk during the meeting.

The spacetech startups have another meeting scheduled with the Indian Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) on April 17. At this meeting, the regulator is supposed to give more details about the meeting with Musk.

Musk’s satellite venture Starlink could soon get a license to launch satellite communication services in India. As per a Mint report, citing sources privy to the matter, the government is currently reviewing Starlink’s license application.

While the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and financial aspects of Starlink’s license application are consistent with the official guidelines and license conditions, the government is conducting due diligence and probing certain security aspects, the report added.

Although Starlink applied for a permit in India in November 2022, it has been facing a critical hurdle vis-à-vis ownership declaration. While granting a GMPCS license to a company, India mandates a complete disclosure of ownership.

Starlink told the Indian government earlier that US privacy laws prohibited it from sharing ownership details of SpaceX, its parent entity, which led to disagreements and, in turn, the cancellation of planned satcom service trials in the country.

However, the matter is sorted now as Starlink has submitted a declaration regarding its ownership.

As per an ET report, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has fast-tracked Starlink’s license process ahead of Musk’s India visit. The department is drawing up a letter of intent (LoI) and contemplating a trial spectrum for Starlink’s satellite communication services. 

Furthermore, India has recently amended its policy to allow 100% FDI in the space sector, a move aimed to woo potential investors to invest in Indian space companies.

Inc42 reported earlier that Musk could disclose his plans to invest and set up a $2-3 Bn EV manufacturing facility in the country during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.