Dhruva Space Broadens Orbital Reach with Polar Access-1 Mission on ISRO PSLV

Our Bureau - : Jan 9, 2026 - : 4:14 am

India’s Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space is set to place a coordinated suite of satellites, deployment systems and ground infrastructure into orbit this month, marking a significant expansion of India’s private-sector role in delivering end-to-end space missions. The company’s Polar Access-1 (PA-1)...

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The company’s Polar Access-1 (PA-1) programme will fly aboard ISRO’s PSLV-DL-C62 on 12 January, providing orbital access for 10 separate missions serving six Indian states and two foreign nations, according to details released ahead of launch.

Unlike traditional rideshare launches focused narrowly on satellite deployment, Polar Access-1 has been structured as an integrated infrastructure mission. Dhruva Space said it is delivering not only spacecraft, but also separation systems, launch vehicle integration and ground-station support as a single coordinated package.

The launch is scheduled for 10:17 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

A full-stack Approach to Orbital Access

At the core of Polar Access-1 is a stack comprising four satellites, five in-orbit separation systems, and multiple operational ground stations. These assets are being deployed through Dhruva Space’s vertically integrated model, which spans satellite platforms, deployment hardware, launch integration and ground operations.

The programme is designed to provide structured, repeatable access to Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO), a regime widely used for Earth observation, environmental monitoring and communications missions.

Dhruva Space received authorisation in 2024 from IN-SPACe, the Government of India’s space regulator for non-governmental entities, to offer Ground-Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS), enabling it to operate and manage ground infrastructure on behalf of customers.

Satellite Missions for States and Institutions

A notable feature of PA-1 is its role in enabling first-time satellite missions for several Indian states and academic institutions.

Among the payloads is CGUSAT-1, developed with CV Raman Global University in Bhubaneswar, marking Odisha’s first satellite mission. Built on Dhruva Space’s P-DoT satellite platform, the spacecraft is intended to demonstrate store-and-forward communications relevant to disaster response.

Karnataka’s contribution, DSAT-1, developed with Dayananda Sagar University, focuses on two-way amateur-band communications and telemetry. Dhruva Space provided the satellite platform, deployment hardware and campus-based ground infrastructure.
From the North-East region, LACHIT-1, developed with Assam Don Bosco University, represents the first satellite mission led from the region, covering eight states including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

These academic missions fall under Dhruva Space’s ASTRA (Accelerated Space Technology Readiness & Access) programme, which aims to embed long-term space capability within universities and public institutions by pairing satellite hardware with operational ground stations and training.

International and Commercial Participation

Beyond India, Polar Access-1 includes a satellite developed by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology in collaboration with Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal, focused on vegetation mapping and environmental monitoring.

The mission also supports commercial technology demonstrations. A payload from Chennai-based NGE OrbitAID will test an on-orbit refuelling interface, while a 1U CubeSat developed for an Ahmedabad school will deploy an LED payload simulating an “artificial star” visible from the ground.

Dhruva Space is also flying its own THYBOLT-3 satellite, which will demonstrate a satellite-enabled disaster communication network using amateur radio architecture, validating the infrastructure being deployed for customers.

Disaster Communication and Amateur Radio Focus

Several of the satellites on PA-1 — including CGUSAT-1, DSAT-1, LACHIT-1 and THYBOLT-3 — will be accessible to licensed amateur radio operators worldwide.

In partnership with the National Institute of Amateur Radio and participating universities, Dhruva Space plans to support training programmes focused on the use of amateur satellites for emergency communications and disaster response. Students and faculty at participating institutions have already undergone hands-on training in satellite engineering and mission operations, using campus-based ground stations established as part of the programme.

Scaling Private Space Infrastructure

Dhruva Space said Polar Access-1 represents a shift from one-off satellite launches toward operational infrastructure delivery, with an emphasis on reliability, repeatability and sovereign control over mission operations.

The company has expanded its ground-station footprint across multiple geographies, aiming to provide continuous coverage and responsive operations for both domestic and international customers.

The PA-1 mission will also deploy a separation system for the first commercial satellite in a constellation from an Indian private customer, further underlining the growing role of domestic firms in end-to-end mission delivery.

As India’s private space sector matures, Polar Access-1 illustrates how launch opportunities on national vehicles such as the PSLV are increasingly being used to support a diverse mix of civil, academic and commercial missions — not merely as payloads, but as integrated space systems.

Isro / Satish-dhawan-space-centre / Dhruva-space / Polar-access-1-pa-1 /

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