Meet HEX20: The Startup Reaching for the Stars
Founded in 2020, HEX20 is a space technology company with engineering operations at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and an international presence in Masdar City, UAE, and Adelaide, Australia. The company, founded by a group of passionate engineers, specialises
in building small satellite platforms, custom hardware, and mission services. It has already achieved flight heritage, having launched satellites for clients and even signed a multi-launch agreement with Skyroot Aerospace, another prominent Indian space startup. This latest collaboration marks a major milestone, making HEX20 the first private Indian company to be selected for a deep-space mission by the UAE Space Agency.
The Mission: A 5-Billion-Kilometre Journey
The project is part of the ambitious Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA). The main spacecraft, named the MBR Explorer, is scheduled for launch in March 2028. Its decade-long journey will cover approximately 5 billion kilometres, involving gravity-assist manoeuvres around Venus, Earth, and Mars as it travels to the main asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. The MBR Explorer will study seven different asteroids, but its final and most important destination is an asteroid named 269 Justitia. This particular asteroid is of high scientific interest because it is unusually red, suggesting it may have formed in the outer solar system before migrating inward.
An Indian Core for a UAE Probe
HEX20's role in this interplanetary programme is critical. The Indian startup was selected by the UAE Space Agency and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to develop the spacecraft bus for the mission's probe. The bus is the fundamental framework of the probe, housing and supporting all its vital systems. HEX20 also developed the mission-specific software, an onboard computer, and power systems robust enough to withstand the harsh environment of deep space. The probe itself was assembled in Abu Dhabi by TII's Propulsion and Space Research Centre in collaboration with partners including HEX20, Khalifa University, and the National Space Science and Technology Centre at UAE University. Once the main spacecraft reaches 269 Justitia in 2036, it will release the HEX20-enabled probe to descend autonomously to the asteroid's surface, capturing close-up images along the way.
Why This Partnership Matters
This collaboration is more than just a single mission; it's a powerful indicator of India's growing stature in the global space economy. For years, India's space efforts were led almost exclusively by the government-run ISRO. However, policy changes in 2020 opened the sector to private enterprise, leading to a boom in startups. The country's space economy, currently valued at around $9 billion, is projected to reach over $40 billion within the next decade. The HEX20-UAE partnership demonstrates that Indian companies are now seen as capable partners for complex, high-stakes international missions. This project is a direct result of broader agreements between India and the UAE to deepen cooperation in the space industry, focusing on joint ventures and private sector participation.
