Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, 31 July praised Hyderabad-based space startup TakeMe2Space after its indigenously developed PowerBank-50 became India's first satellite battery to earn flight heritage status — a critical qualification that validates a component's real-world performance in orbit.

Reacting on social media platform X, Sitharaman wrote: 'Brilliant! Until now, Indian satellite builders mostly had to import this critical component at high cost and long waiting times.'

The Mission That Made History

The milestone was achieved following the successful deployment of the PowerBank-50 aboard Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket during its maiden mission, 'Aagaman', launched on 18 July. The battery powered Cosmoserve Space's experimental payload on the launch vehicle's Orbital Adjustment Module at an altitude of 450 km, performing without fault throughout the mission.

According to TakeMe2Space, the successful flight has now earned the battery the flight heritage tag — a designation that carries substantial weight with satellite manufacturers, launch providers, and space insurers, all of whom typically prefer hardware with proven spaceflight experience.

What Makes the PowerBank-50 Significant

The battery pack is engineered for the demands of space: it uses high-energy-density lithium-ion cells, an intelligent battery management system, integrated cell heaters, and a lightweight aluminium enclosure designed to withstand launch vibrations, radiation, vacuum, and extreme temperature swings. The compact unit stores more than 50 watt-hours of energy, weighs approximately 380 grams, and is built to power CubeSats and microsatellites for missions of up to five years in low-Earth orbit.

Impact on India's Space Ecosystem

Until now, Indian satellite developers were largely dependent on imported batteries — procurement that reportedly involved high costs and extended waiting periods. A domestically developed, flight-proven power system is expected to significantly lower the barrier to entry for startups, research institutions, and universities looking to build and launch satellites.

Notably, this development arrives at a moment when India's small satellite sector is expanding rapidly, with a growing number of private players entering the market following the liberalisation of the space industry. A reliable, affordable domestic power solution could become a foundational component for the next generation of Indian space missions.

What Comes Next

The flight heritage certification positions TakeMe2Space to supply the PowerBank-50 at scale to the domestic satellite ecosystem. Industry observers note that the milestone could also attract interest from international small satellite developers seeking cost-competitive, flight-proven components. The broader implication is a potential reduction in India's import bill for space-grade hardware — a goal aligned with the government's push for self-reliance in strategic sectors.