SOURCE: AFI

Founded in 2022 by Hitendra Singh and Kajal Rajbhar, T-Hub-incubated aerospace startup SpanTrik was born from a vision to transform humanity’s approach to space exploration. “Traditional rockets are magnificent feats of engineering but incredibly wasteful. After a mission, most of the rocket is lost, falling into the ocean. That’s why we are building ‘Raven,’ a fully reusable rocket designed to change the game,” explains co-founder Kajal Rajbhar.
Set to launch in 2028, Raven is SpanTrik’s flagship project designed to support a variety of missions, from deploying mega constellations of satellites and carrying payloads to the Moon to aiding humanity’s steps toward Mars. “Raven can carry 8 to 22 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 5 tonnes to Mars. What sets it apart is its green propulsion system, which uses LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and LOX (Liquid Oxygen). These fuels are environmentally friendly, aligning with our commitment to sustainability,” Kajal shares.
The rocket will feature two stages: the first stage employs Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL) technology, allowing it to return to the launch site with precision, while the second stage incorporates an Orbital Inflatable Decelerator (OID) for a safe and controlled re-entry. “This level of innovation allows us to reuse every major part of the rocket,” notes the founder.
Before launching Raven, SpanTrik aims to test its core technologies with a scaled-down version called Leapfrogger. Designed to replicate Raven’s launch and landing processes, Leapfrogger will undergo VTVL capability tests in September 2025.
So far, SpanTrik has been funded by the government. However, to further advance its technology and scale operations, the startup is actively working to raise $1.5 million in the coming months. “This funding will be instrumental in moving closer to realizing our dream of launching Raven,” says Kajal.
With its groundbreaking approach to reusability and sustainability, SpanTrik is poised to make a significant impact on the future of space exploration.
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