Spacetech Startup Inbound Aerospace Successfully Conducts Initial Trials of India's First Precision Aerial Delivery System

• The test marks a step forward in developing and commercialising a critical subsystem for precision landings of its reusable spacecraft.
• Unlike conventional dumb parachute drops that only reduce descent speed, PADS achieves precision landings within a 100-metre radius of a designated location.

Inbound Aerospace, a Chennai-based, IIT Madras-incubated startup developing a reusable spacecraft, successfully completed an aerial drop test of an indigenously developed Precision Aerial Delivery System (PADS); a first by a private Indian entity.

PADS, a critical subsystem of the reusable spacecraft, in simpler terms, is a smart parachute deployment system capable of autonomous guidance and precise landings. The precision drop test, a first from an Indian startup, is part of a broader set of subsequent tests planned from up to 30 km or the edge of space.

While Inbound Aerospace develops its reusable spacecraft modelled on a lifting-body design slated for launch in 2028 to enable the return leg of orbital logistics, PADS enable a controlled, safe descent to a pre-designated landing site once the spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere. Unlike conventional unguided parachute drops that reduce descent speed, PADS achieves precision landings, delivering payloads within a 200-metre radius, a capability that is being further refined.

Beyond an integral subsystem of the reusable spacecraft's retrieval mechanism, PADS also has individual applications in emergency response, aerial defence logistics and safety systems, where precision delivery of payloads is a critical capability. Currently, such systems are imported from the USA or Europe. PADS delivers payloads accurately using onboard GPS navigation and autonomous GNS systems in GPS-denied environments. It can steer payloads and alter its flight path in real time to account for diverse geographies, weather conditions and inaccessible terrain.

Currently available in two variants: PADS Modular, which can carry payloads of 10–200 kg, and PADS 2K, designed for heavier payloads of 200–2,000 kg. Both variants can be deployed from altitudes of up to 7,000 metres above mean sea level. The same system is also being commercialised as a drone safety and recovery system.

As commercial space activity grows, with the global space economy currently valued at US$550–600 billion and ISRO planning the Gaganyaan mission and multi-module assembly for Chandrayaan-4, precise payload recovery post re-entry is emerging as a critical capability. Other factors accelerating demand are the scheduled deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030 and the transition of microgravity-based research and manufacturing from government-led scientific experimentation to commercial high-value applications in pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, semiconductors and medical technologies.

About Inbound Aerospace

Inbound Aerospace is an IIT Madras-incubated aerospace startup developing an autonomous, unmanned, free-flying and recoverable spacecraft platform, aiding low-Earth-orbit missions. Focused on solving a core gap in the emerging space economy, aligned with ISRO plans to accelerate its launch frequency and transition toward advanced human spaceflight and orbital infrastructure. While launch services become more accessible, regular and reliable, the return leg from orbit remains a major challenge.

Inbound Aerospace is building a reusable re-entry spacecraft to enable in-orbit technology demonstrations, microgravity research and in-space manufacturing. After completing the experiment or mission phase, the spacecraft is intended to de-orbit, withstand extremely high thermal re-entry loads, autonomously navigate and execute a controlled landing on a runway or designated landing site. This approach positions Inbound as India’s first payload-return and orbital logistics company. While launch services provide access to orbit, Inbound Aerospace is building the capability to return hardware, samples, and manufactured products to the ground.

This capability is especially important for pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, advanced materials, semiconductors, fibre optics and other sectors where the value of space-based work depends on recovering the payload quickly and intact. Alongside orbital logistics and microgravity-as-a-service, Inbound is developing precision-landing capabilities with near-term relevance to defence and disaster-response systems in extremely remote environments. The core dual-use platform, guidance, navigation and control systems, also supports remote terrestrial supply drops where conventional parachute drops or drone logistics are unreliable.

Dr Aravind I B, Co-founder, Inbound Aerospace

Dr Aravind brings deep aerospace research experience to Inbound Aerospace’s mission of making sustained microgravity research and payload return more accessible. With an MS+PhD in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Space Engineering from IIT Madras, Dr Aravind focused on liquid rocket engine combustion. He has deep experience in designing, setting up and testing experimental aerospace facilities, and has been associated with IIT Madras microgravity research infrastructure, including the NCCRD Microgravity Drop Tower at IIT Madras. Prior to teaming up with his cofounders at Inbound Aerospace, Dr Aravind also worked on GE Aerospace’s dual annular counter-rotating swirler pre-mixer and contributed to ISRO’s Hypersonic Scramjet Engine Flight Test Demonstrator, which was flight-tested successfully in 2016.

Vishal Reddy, Co-founder, Inbound Aerospace

Vishal brings experience across engineering program execution, business strategy and data-led decision-making to Inbound's pioneering work on reusable orbital logistics. He holds a Master of Science in Management Science and Engineering from Columbia University and previously worked with Tesla as an Engineering Program Manager Intern, where he led 15+ projects across stages of execution and helped ramp Model Y production at the Texas Gigafactory. He has also worked as a Graduate Data Science Consultant with UNDP, which used satellite night-time light data to estimate subnational GDP.

Captain Abhijit Bhutey (Retd), Co-founder, Inbound Aerospace

Captain Abhijit (Retd) brings a mission-operations and defence aviation lens to Inbound Aerospace’s work on precision landing, payload recovery and high-consequence aerospace systems. A former Indian Navy aviator, he has flown MiG-29K aircraft, completed 120 carrier landings, participated in international exercises, and operated across day-and-night missions, air-to-air refuelling, and missile firings. He has also held command responsibility as Commanding Officer of a warship/squadron, served as directing staff for mid-level officers at Staff College, Wellington, and mentors the PGP batch 2023-25 at IIM Nagpur. He holds an MSc in Defence & Strategic Studies and an MA in Aviation Law & Airline Management. At Inbound, Abhijit focuses on mission safety, precision landing systems, defence logistics and spacecraft recovery.