{
  "id": 2776511,
  "title": "Our next space race may be closer to Earth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/our-next-space-race-may-be-closer-to-earth",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-23T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "YourStory",
    "slug": "yourstory",
    "url": "https://yourstory.com/2026/08/our-next-space-race-may-be-closer-to-earth"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the realm of near-space infrastructure, Indian spacetech startup Red Balloon Aerospace is making strides with its platforms utilizing stratospheric airships, aerostats, and super-pressure balloons. Co-founded by CVS Kiran, the company aims to establish platforms for operating in near-space conditions before payloads are sent into space. Their flagship product, HELIX, is an autonomous stratospheric airship designed for persistent and long-endurance near-space operations. The company also recently launched VISTA, a super-pressure balloon, to test core subsystems that will be utilized in HELIX.",
  "summary": "Before a payload goes to space, it needs to be tested in near-space conditions. But access to such facilities is limited in India, says Red Balloon Aerospace Co-founder CVS Kiran.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}