Houston, Texas & Hyderabad, India: In a significant step toward advancing global space exploration and commercial access to low-Earth orbit (LEO), Axiom Space and India-based Skyroot Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration opportunities. The agreement aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to accelerate research, orbital infrastructure, and launch capabilities in India and international markets.
The MoU was signed by Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space, and Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, marking a new chapter in US-India private space cooperation. This partnership comes on the heels of Axiom’s recent Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which launched on June 25, 2025, featuring Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—the first Indian private astronaut to fly to the International Space Station (ISS).
Axiom Space, headquartered in Houston, is pioneering the construction and operation of the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom Station, planned to succeed the ISS in the coming decade. The company is actively building a diverse global supply chain and sees Skyroot as a key partner in expanding launch and orbital services.
Skyroot Aerospace, based in Hyderabad, is India’s leading private space launch provider and the first private company in South Asia to successfully launch a rocket to space. Skyroot’s landmark 2022 suborbital launch of Vikram-S demonstrated its capabilities, and the company is now preparing for the maiden flight of Vikram-1, its first orbital-class rocket, expected later this year.
Pawan Kumar Chandana highlighted the mission behind Skyroot’s rapid rise, “Enabling greater and equitable access to space, be it for research institutes, startups, or national agencies, is the guiding mantra at Skyroot. As we near the maiden orbital launch of Vikram-1, this partnership with Axiom Space builds an opportunity to explore integrated launch and orbital solutions that will shape humanity’s future in space.”
Tejpaul Bhatia echoed this enthusiasm, emphasizing the long-term potential of the collaboration, “Since the day I visited Skyroot’s facility two years ago, I knew our companies had to work together to define humanity’s future in space. With our shared vision to transform access to space, we look forward to collaborating with Skyroot to serve the growing space ecosystem in India and globally.”
Under the MoU, Axiom Space and Skyroot Aerospace will explore multiple avenues of collaboration, including:
- Utilization of Skyroot’s launch capabilities for delivering research payloads and commercial satellites to LEO.
- Development of orbital data center nodes and other infrastructure modules to be deployed on Axiom Station and independently in orbit.
- Joint missions and integrated launch-orbit solutions tailored for both Indian and international customers.
This partnership is designed to strengthen Axiom’s supply chain resilience by incorporating Indian launch services while providing Skyroot with expanded access to global markets and orbital platforms.
The timing of the MoU coincides with India’s renewed momentum in human spaceflight, highlighted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic flight aboard Ax-4. This mission is only the second time an Indian national has flown in space and the first on a private mission, underscoring the growing role of commercial pathways alongside government programs like ISRO’s Gaganyaan.
Skyroot’s emergence as the first private Indian company to partner with ISRO and launch rockets into space signals a paradigm shift in India’s space industry, moving toward a vibrant private sector ecosystem. The collaboration with Axiom Space further integrates India into the expanding global space economy.
Industry analysts note that pairing Skyroot’s small-lift launch vehicles with Axiom’s planned commercial space station could create an end-to-end Indian-origin supply chain for experiments, in-orbit manufacturing, and data processing in microgravity environments.
Axiom Space’s ongoing private astronaut missions, including Ax-4, are laying the groundwork for a commercial successor to the ISS. By partnering with innovative companies like Skyroot, Axiom is diversifying its launch options and enhancing its ability to serve a broad customer base worldwide.
The collaboration also represents a strategic foothold for Axiom in South Asia, one of the fastest-growing space markets globally. With Skyroot’s Vikram-1 orbital launch vehicle set to debut in 2025 carrying commercial nanosatellites and technology demonstrators, the partnership is poised to unlock new opportunities for research and commercial ventures in orbit.
Both companies expressed excitement about the future of their partnership. As the commercial space sector evolves toward multipolarity and increased international cooperation, this MoU exemplifies how private firms from different countries can jointly advance humanity’s presence in space.
The combined expertise of Axiom Space’s station development and Skyroot Aerospace’s launch capabilities promises to accelerate innovation and accessibility in LEO, benefiting research institutions, startups, and national agencies alike.
