Spacetech Startup Cosmochute Establishes Lunar Terrain Simulation Lab at IIMA Ventures
Ahmedabad-based spacetech enterprise Cosmochute is constructing an advanced lunar surface simulator at IIMA Ventures, The Times of India reported. Scheduled for operational completion by January, the specialized facility will test critical subsystems for the company's modular lunar rover platform. The venture was established by founders Amit Chowdhary, Janhavi Gore, and Dhruv Sangal, who relocated from the United Kingdom to Ahmedabad after working together for nearly four years at Scotland-based space launch firm Orbex, The Times of India noted. Cosmochute recently secured 1.5 million dollars in pre-seed funding to accelerate development of its reusable surface mobility systems.
Modular Rover Strategy and ISRO Mentorship
The startup focuses on constructing reusable, interoperable lunar rovers to decrease surface mobility expenditures for international space programs, The Times of India reported. Co-founder and chief operating officer Chowdhry stated that global space initiatives across India, the United States, Europe, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates are driving demand within the emerging lunar economy. The team receives technical guidance and mentorship from Mylswamy Annadurai, who previously served as programme director for ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission. All three founding engineers hold technical backgrounds spanning aeronautical engineering, space systems engineering, avionics, and embedded software architectures.
The inaugural initiative, named LEAP, combines a rover and trailer featuring standard payload bays so that multiple payloads share an integrated mission layout, according to Dealroom.
Regolith Replication and Artificial Solar Rig
The simulator is designed to recreate key environmental conditions of the lunar surface to accelerate pre-flight validation cycles, The Times of India reported. Chief executive officer Janhavi Gore explained that the testing facility utilizes simulated regolith alongside a counterweight rig to mimic the weak gravitational environment of the Moon. The laboratory also incorporates an artificial solar lighting array to simulate direct sunlight glare on rover navigation cameras during proximity operations. Engineers will use these lighting simulations to refine autonomous navigation algorithms and optimize optical camera performance during harsh surface exposure.
Cosmochute was selected for the inaugural Atoms X cohort, according to Dealroom.
Ahmedabad Spacetech Cluster Milestones
The development coincides with broader technical milestones achieved across Ahmedabad's growing commercial space cluster, The Times of India reported. Orbitt Space achieved 18 millinewtons of thrust using atmospheric air propellant for an air-breathing electric propulsion system designed for very low-Earth orbit satellites, The Times of India noted. Company chief executive Christopher Parmar presented the propulsion concept to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ESTIC 2026 conference. Concurrently, aerospace startup Om Space finalized the nose cone and kick stage assemblies for its reusable rocket Infinity One, advancing toward vehicle integration and flight validation, The Times of India noted.