Red Balloon Aerospace aims to build India’s near-space infrastructure

What happened

Vijayawada-based spacetech startup Red Balloon Aerospace recently completed a stratospheric balloon mission, demonstrating indigenous super-pressure balloon capabilities. India’s private space sector has largely focused on rockets, satellites, and launching payloads (what a rocket is carrying) into orbit.

But Vijayawada-based Red Balloon Aerospace is looking at the region below satellites, developing platforms that can operate at high altitudes for extended periods. Founded in 2025 by former Skyroot Aerospace Vice Presidents CVS Kiran and Sireesh Pallikonda, the startup is developing what it calls a near-space infrastructure layer using stratospheric airships, aerostats, and super-pressure balloons.

The company is targeting the region between conventional aviation and orbital space. “Between where aircraft end and satellites begin lies an entire domain that's largely unused, close enough to be affordable, and high enough to be persistent. Roughly 20 km to 50 km above Earth,” says Kiran, CEO of Red Balloon Aerospace.