India's EtherealX Raises $5M Seed Funding for Fully Reusable Launch Vehicles

EtherealX, an Indian space startup, has secured $5 million in seed funding to develop fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicles, aiming to make satellite launches more cost-effective and time-efficient.
Unlike SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which offers partial reusability, EtherealX plans to retrieve both the upper stage and booster, significantly reducing transportation costs and launch timeframes.
Founded in 2022 by Manu J. Nair, Shubhayu Sardar, and Prashant Sharma, the Bengaluru-based startup aims to capture 30-40% of the market with its Razor Crest Mk-1 vehicle.
EtherealX's proprietary rocket engine cycle and deployment system allow efficient operation in both vacuum and atmosphere, avoiding traditional reentry heat issues.
The startup plans to launch a technology demonstrator vehicle by 2026 and has already identified 35 potential customers, with initial plans to serve 10-15 customers.