Indian Spacetech Startups Venture Into Orbital Pharma Manufacturing

27 Aug 2026, 8:00 am · 16d ago · 1 min read · Inc42

Indian spacetech startups are venturing into orbital manufacturing, exploring microgravity in low-Earth orbit to produce pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. Microgravity removes convection, sedimentation, and buoyancy, allowing researchers to grow superior protein crystals and study biological processes. Startups such as Serendipity recently flight-tested a satellite prototype housing an autonomous pharma factory, while Ethereal is building a reusable upper stage for experiments. Other players include AnduraX, developing reusable spaceplanes, and Akashalabdhi, creating modular inflatable habitats. Support from IN-SPACe and ISRO’s planned space station aims to help scale these orbital drug-making trials into repeatable commercial missions.