STAR: Sunny Kabrawala on Democratizing Space Tech and Building a Commercial Rocketry Legacy
In a country where every other child dreams of becoming an astronaut, the professional reality often falls short of the celestial ambition. For decades, the stars were reserved for the elite graduates of premier institutions and the corridors of state-run agencies. Sunny Kabrawala, the Founder of Space Technology & Aeronautical Rocketry (STAR), is shattering this barrier. From failing his 11th-grade physics to building a commercial rocketry startup in Surat, Sunny’s journey is a testament to the fact that the sky hides its secrets from no one, regardless of their academic pedigree.
The 'Failed' Student with an Aerospace Dream
Sunny’s passion for space didn't follow the conventional "topper" trajectory. "I got just 60% in my 10th, failed in physics in 11th, and got 42% in 12th," Sunny candidly admits. These grades were a death sentence for his dreams of getting into premier aerospace engineering institutes or working at ISRO. But Sunny realized a fundamental truth: "When you want to explore the sky, you just need to go and look at the sky. It's never going to hide itself by telling you that you don't have a degree."
Instead of giving up, he founded a small rocket club in Surat in 2015. Alongside a few classmates, they began experimenting in public gardens and parks. The early days were a masterclass in failure—they built 36 rockets, and every single one of them failed to launch properly. Yet, these 36 failures became the cornerstone of their expertise.
Democratizing Access: Education and Research
STAR operates through two distinct but synergistic verticals. The first is **Space Education**, where they provide project-based learning to students who, like Sunny, want to get their hands dirty. They offer workshops where students can design, build, and launch their own small-scale rockets. The second is **Space Research**, focusing on building commercial-grade space products, flight computers, and reusable sounding rockets.
The STAR Vision
The company is built on three core beliefs:
- Commercialization: Making space missions more economical and accessible to private players.
- Inclusion: Removing the institutional gatekeeping of aerospace technology.
- Legacy: Building an institution that outlasts its founders, much like NASA or ISRO.
The Power of Miniaturization
Sunny points out that the tables have turned in the space industry. While the Apollo mission's flight computer had only 64KB of memory, today's pocket calculators are more powerful. "Satellites used to be as big as a car; now you can make a satellite that fits in your pocket," Sunny explains. This miniaturization has opened the door for startups like STAR to perform experiments that were once the sole province of superpowers.
Bootstrapping a Rocket Company
Perhaps most impressively, STAR is a completely bootstrapped venture. Starting with an investment of zero rupees, Sunny and his team funded their research by teaching others. They charged as little as 20 rupees per student for initial workshops, funneling every rupee of revenue back into improving their rocket designs. This lean approach allowed them to survive and grow for over four years without external funding.
Impact in Numbers
- Rocket Launches: Over 67 high-power rockets launched to date.
- Success from Failure: Overcame 36 initial launch failures to achieve flight stability.
- Outreach Goal: Targeting 1 million students for project-based learning by 2024.
- Space Horizon: Aiming for the first launch to space by 2024-2025.
The Surat Advantage: A Culture of Collaboration
While most tech startups head to Bangalore or Mumbai, Sunny stayed in his hometown of Surat. He credits the city's "free culture" for his success. "One good thing about Surat is we don't have a corporate life here. You can have tea with the boss of a major company and have a real discussion," he notes. This collaborative ecosystem provided the incubation and support necessary for STAR to evolve from a club into a private limited firm.
The Role Model: Following the 'Missile Man'
While Sunny admires the risk-taking spirit of Elon Musk, his true role model is **Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam**. "I follow Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam because he lived a simple life and was a great visionary who always inspired students," Sunny shares. He resonates with Kalam’s desire to be remembered as a teacher, aiming to make STAR a "legacy" where new leaders will consistently bring new visions to the table.
Advice for Future Space Pioneers
- Be Yourself: Don't try to copy other startups. Invent your own recipe for success.
- Serve Humanity: Revenue and profitability are byproducts. Focus on how you can serve people through technology.
- The Million Dollar Question: Ask yourself, "What will I be remembered for?" When you find that answer, you find your purpose.
- Loyalty to the Work: Whether in a 9-to-5 or a startup, be loyal to the work you love. The stress vanishes when you love what you do.
A Vision for the Solar System
Sunny’s vision extends beyond Earth's orbit. He believes that humanity is not meant to stay on "just one rock." By supporting the technologies that will help humans sustain life on Mars, STAR is playing its part in the long-term survival of intelligent life in our solar system. "Earth is going to become the next Mars, and Mars can become the next Earth," he muses, highlighting the urgency of space exploration.
From a "physics-fail" student to a torchbearer of Indian private rocketry, Sunny Kabrawala is proving that with enough passion and persistence, anyone can reach for the stars—and actually touch them.