Gujarat’s First Rocket Launch: What the OSRE Sounding Rocket Test at Dholera Means for India’s Space Future

In March 2026, Gujarat created history by launching its first sounding rocket launch from its own soil. This rocket was launched near Bavaliyari village which is close to Dholera and it was developed by an Ahmedabad-based startup OSRE (OmSpace Rocket & Exploration). This seems to be a sign of Gujarat entering into  the space-technology ecosystem especially when a startup was able to achieve this milestone in a field traditionally dominated by government agencies. 

This single stage suborbital rocket reached the altitude of around 3km within seconds and it landed safely using a dual-parachute recovery system about 4km away from the launch site. The significance this moment holds in India’s private space revolution is immense as it is evident how we are expanding beyond ISRO launchpads. 

What exactly happened at Dholera?

The single-stage sounding rocket having a length of 4.2 meters was launched and it reached the altitude of 3km within seconds of launch. The rocket tested propulsion integrity which is a time-phased approach that ensures that the propulsion system i.e. the engines and motors remain sound, safe and durable in their structure throughout the launch time. It also tested the avionics system which refers to testing the electronic equipment and softwares used that aid in managing communication, navigation, flight control and monitoring the system. At the same time, they were also able to successfully check the autonomous recovery mechanism in the rocket that is an AI-driven automated system which is designed to detect, replicate and restore important data and IT infrastructure related data without manual intervention. 

The rocket used indigenous technologies of their place such as the 3D-printed torch igniter, a sugar-based solid propellant motor and a carbon-fiber compost airframe and all the required approvals related to anything used and done were taken from agencies like IN-SPACe, AAI, DGCA, and the Indian Coast Guard. The launch was attended by Science and Technology Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Arjun Modhwadia. This launch was thus not a symbolic launch, it was a technology validation mission.

What is a sounding rocket?

A sounding rocket is a small suborbital rocket which is used to test technologies, collect data on atmosphere, validate the systems used in rockets and conduct microgravity experiments. Even India’s early space programme started with sounding rockets in the 1960s before they developed satellite launch vehicles. The key characteristics of these rockets are that they are lower in costs, have shorter missions and have faster testing cycles. 

Who is OSRE? 

OmSpace Rocket & Exploration Pvt Ltd (OSRE) is a space technology startup based in Ahmedabad. It is founded by Ravindra Raj Binod Mistri, Maulik Mota and Stutika Padamshali. Their company’s mission is to develop cost-efficient reusable launch vehicles and enable launch of nano and cube satellites to low Earth orbit. It is working on a reusable orbital launch vehicle called ‘Infinity One’. This holds a significance where we see India’s startup system entering space technology. 

Why was Dholera chosen for the launch?

Dholera, a region in Gujarat, is a part of Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), which is amongst India’s planned smart industrial cities. It has a large open land area which is suitable for testing rockets and is close to Ahmedabad’s growing space startup ecosystem. Also, Gujarat government is considering Dholera as a satellite launchpad location under its SpaceTech policy. This way Dholera could become India’s next private space testing hub. 

Why is this significant?

If we have a closer look at India’s pirate space revolution, we began with sounding rockets in the 1960s. Fast forward to 2020, the Indian government opened the space sector to private companies through reforms and IN-SPACe regulations. In 2022, India’s first private rocket Vikram-S was launched by Skyroot Aerospace and we can see more start ups entering the rocket department in 2026. India’s vision is to compete with SpaceX, Rocket Lab and the emerging small-satellite launch providers. 

Additionally, until now India’s launches mainly happened from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Now, we can see Gujarat startups also entering the sector. As Ahmedabad already hosts IN-SPACe headquarters, this even attracts startups and investment opportunities. It can also boost employment for propulsion engineers, aerospace designers and satellite specialists. Dholera could likely become the aerospace manufacturing hub, a satellite assembling zone or a launch vehicle testing site if the private space sectors continue growing like this. 

What comes next?

OSRE has mentioned that it is planning its next sounding rocket test around Aug-Sep. It is also looking into the development of orbital reusable rocket ‘Infinity One’. If successful, India could have more private launch vehicles, lower cost satellite launches and commercial space services. It also helps private companies to expand as ISRO is focusing more on research and national missions. This helps us gain a positive outlook and we can also see India emerging as a global space economy player.