How Red Balloon Aerospace is building India’s near-space infrastructure
Founded by former Skyroot Aerospace executive CVS Kiran, the spacetech startup is developing platforms for communications, disaster response, remote connectivity, and other near-space applications.
How Red Balloon Aerospace is building India’s near-space infrastructure
Before launching a payload into space, it must undergo testing in near-space conditions. However, access to such facilities is limited in India, according to CVS Kiran. Kiran, who spent years developing space vehicles designed to reach orbit, observed that the few available facilities are oversubscribed with lengthy waiting lists that can extend development timelines.
As a former scientist at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and former VP at Skyroot Aerospace, Kiran identified a gap in the market. "Between where aircrafts end and satellites begin lies an entire domain that is largely unused, close enough to be affordable, and high enough to be persistent," he noted. This realization led him to co-found Red Balloon Aerospace in 2025.
Located in Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh, the space technology startup is constructing platforms for what it perceives as the near-space infrastructure layer, utilizing stratospheric airships, aerostats, and super-pressure balloons. Kiran, the CEO, emphasized that Red Balloon Aerospace aims to ensure India's ownership, operation, and leadership in the near-space domain through indigenous platforms, deep technology engineering, and a long-term vision for near-space as national infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from YourStory's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
