Bengaluru startup Akashalabdhi has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to develop ANTARIKSHAB, India’s first expandable orbital habitat. Founded by Siddharth Jena, the dual-use platform aims to serve space exploration and defence needs. Backed by IISc, IIT Roorkee, and key investors, the startup plans prototype integration by 2025 and launch trials with SpaceX in 2026.