Equatorial Space is a Singapore-based space start-up that develops hybrid-engine rockets and space launch services. It was founded in 2017 to develop low-cost and environmentally friendly space launch vehicles.
What motivated you to launch a rocket propulsion space start-up in 2017?
The ambition to contribute to spaceflight had been a lifelong dream, despite setbacks that prevented me from pursuing it earlier.
By 2017, the rise of private space companies and growing media interest after Falcon 1’s inaugural launch made the field more attractive. This was also around the time Rocket Lab achieved its first successful launch, showing that startups could enter this complex industry.
With the advances in technology and reduced barriers to entry, even smaller organizations could now compete.
Startups and venture capital provided fertile ground for innovation in the sector, enabling us to leverage technology and find support. The modern advances and reduced costs helped level the playing field, allowing our small organization to make strides. Thus, it became clear that with the right team and innovative technologies, we could achieve meaningful progress.
Given the current monopoly on commercial space travel, how can local, smaller space start-ups remain competitive on the global stage?
SpaceX is widely admired for revolutionizing the launch industry, and they’ve gained a practical monopoly through innovation. However, innovation doesn't stop with one company. New entrants can differentiate themselves by creating technologies that change the game. In our case, we’re developing propulsion technologies that will challenge the status quo. No monopoly lasts forever, and diversified competition benefits everyone. A robust, competitive launch industry will ultimately propel humanity forward. Startups can distinguish themselves through specialization and novel approaches, ensuring competition thrives in this evolving sector.
Space is a universal adventure, and countries that aren't traditional players want to participate. Our goal is to transition from cheering on other nations to being active contributors. We see ourselves as a global company headquartered in Singapore, where the core team started. While the country’s space industry mainly focuses on satellites and downstream applications, smaller nations can still influence the launch segment. Rocket Lab's success in New Zealand—a non-traditional aerospace market—is a prime example of this.
Which geographical regions do you anticipate seeing the most growth potential for your products and services?
We have divisions in Australia and the U.S. while maintaining strong connections in India. We aim to support regional launch ecosystems through subsidiaries, joint ventures, or licensing. However, Singapore, Australia, and the U.S. remain our core markets for now. Australia is an emerging market, and the U.S. is currently the largest. The U.K. shows promise due to its resources, talent, and supply chain, particularly in Scotland, but it's still early.
India stands out due to its massive domestic satellite market, despite only two advanced private companies working on small launch vehicles. In Europe, billions have been invested in the sector, particularly in France and Germany, which will diversify their launch industry. The U.S. remains a dominant force due to technological sophistication, but aspirations for spaceflight are global, and competition will increase Overall, we expect to see significant changes as various regions bolster their space programs. This will create a more diversified market that serves the global demand for satellite applications and launch services.
Hybrid rocket propulsion has gained little traction historically. How are you leveraging this technology to access space at a lower cost, risk, and environmental impact?
Current propulsion architecture hasn’t significantly changed since WWII. Most launch vehicles rely on the same architecture as the German V2 missiles. Hybrids have been around since the 1930s, but their underwhelming performance prevented them from gaining traction in aerospace and defense, so they were relegated to educational projects. NASA explored hybrids for the shuttle program in the 1970s but ultimately chose solid-propelled rocket boosters. Unfortunately, these solid boosters contributed to the Challenger disaster due to their inability to be shut down mid-flight. A more advanced hybrid could have provided safer options and perhaps prevented the tragedy.
Our proprietary fuel formulation has resolved these historical limitations by focusing on high performance and structural stability, offering improved safety and reduced cost and complexity compared to purely solid or liquid systems. We decided early on that meaningful innovation in propulsion technology could challenge the dominance of larger players. Hybrids are non-explosive, simpler to transport, and environmentally friendly. They’re also straightforward to manufacture and provide a transformative technology that reduces costs and risks while offering sustainable commercial space access.
You are currently in the process of raising more capital from investors. What are your primary goals for the next two years?
Startups are inherently challenging, especially when combined with rocket science. Fundraising remains difficult due to skepticism from investors who question why we're not in a more traditional market. Commercializing new technology always carries some unknowns, adding risk. Finding the right market fit is tricky, and the growing competition in the space launch business will require us to carve out a niche. Our immediate challenge involves physically scaling our systems, which requires larger test facilities.
We're opening a facility in Darwin, Australia, to address this logistical challenge and allow for continuous testing, since Singapore's dense population limits access to suitable test locations. The next milestone is launching our suborbital rocket for brief access to space, aiming to reach the boundary for several minutes. Beyond that, achieving orbit is our primary goal, and we're taking an incremental approach to minimize risks. Human spaceflight is a longer-term aspiration, but developing reliable systems for satellite launches remains the immediate focus.
