India's EtherealX Hits $80.5M Valuation to Build Fully Reusable Rockets
India's EtherealX reaches an $80.5M valuation following a $20.5M Series A. The startup is developing the Razor Crest Mk-1, a fully reusable rocket targeting a 2027 demo flight.
The global race for reusable space flight has a new heavyweight contender. EtherealX, an Indian space tech startup, recently saw its valuation jump 5.5x to $80.5 million after closing an oversubscribed $20.5 million Series A funding round. According to TechCrunch, the round was led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital, with participation from Accel and Prosus.
EtherealX Reusable Rocket Roadmap and Razor Crest Mk-1
The Bengaluru-based company isn't just aiming for partial recovery; it's designing the Razor Crest Mk-1 to be fully reusable. While SpaceX's Falcon 9 focuses on returning the first-stage booster, EtherealX intends to return both the booster and the upper stage. This approach could significantly slash launch costs to a range of $350 to $2,000 per kilogram over time.
| Feature | Razor Crest Mk-1 Specs |
|---|---|
| Booster Engine | 1.2 MN Stallion |
| Upper Stage Engine | 80 kN Pegasus |
| Max Payload (Expendable) | 24.8 tonnes |
| Fully Reusable Payload | 8 tonnes |
| Target Demo Launch | Late 2027 |
Scaling Operations for a 2028 Commercial Debut
EtherealX is moving fast, with engine hot-fire tests scheduled for June–July 2026. To support this, the startup has secured a 150-acre manufacturing and testing campus in Andhra Pradesh. CEO Manu J. Nair confirmed that the company has already signed $130 million in launch MOUs with international partners like Japan's SpaceBD and Taiwan's TASA.
This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.
Related Articles
Sequoia Capital is reportedly joining Anthropic's massive $25 billion funding round. Read about why the VC giant is breaking its 'no-competitor' rule and what it means for OpenAI.
ClickHouse reaches a $15 billion valuation following a $400 million funding round. The database challenger also acquired Langfuse to boost its AI agent observability capabilities.
Investors focus on satellite chips and BCI as the China tech self-sufficiency 5-year plan approaches in March 2026, targeting next-gen tech champions.
Liftoff Mobile, backed by Blackstone and General Atlantic, has filed for its 2026 IPO. With $519M in revenue and $1.85B in debt, the ad-tech firm aims for a $400M raise.
Sequoia Capital is reportedly joining Anthropic's massive $25 billion funding round. Read about why the VC giant is breaking its 'no-competitor' rule and what it means for OpenAI.
ClickHouse reaches a $15 billion valuation following a $400 million funding round. The database challenger also acquired Langfuse to boost its AI agent observability capabilities.
Investors focus on satellite chips and BCI as the China tech self-sufficiency 5-year plan approaches in March 2026, targeting next-gen tech champions.
Liftoff Mobile, backed by Blackstone and General Atlantic, has filed for its 2026 IPO. With $519M in revenue and $1.85B in debt, the ad-tech firm aims for a $400M raise.