Equatorial Space Systems
Corporate brand
UnclaimedEquatorial Space Systems is a Singapore-based aerospace company developing hybrid-propulsion rockets and commercial space-launch services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Equatorial Space Systems, also known as Equatorial Space and legally identified as Equatorial Space Systems PTE LTD, is a Singapore-based space-technology company focused on hybrid rocket propulsion, sounding rockets, and small-launch-vehicle services. The company was established in 2017 by Simon Gwozdz and Praveen Ganapathi Perumal, initially under the name Equatorial Space Industries. Its stated objective has been to make access to space more affordable while emphasizing propulsion systems intended to be safer and less environmentally harmful than some conventional alternatives. The company began operations in Singapore after securing incubation space at The Hangar, an initiative associated with National University of Singapore Enterprise, in December 2017. Its early development work centered on hybrid rocket motors using a solid fuel formulation and a separate oxidizer. This approach was applied to the company's Low Altitude Demonstrator, or LAD, a small experimental vehicle intended to validate propulsion technology in flight. In October 2018, the company received the Mohammad Bin Rashid Innovation Cup in Dubai, providing an early public recognition of its engineering and commercial ambitions. Equatorial Space Industries was reorganized and rebranded as Equatorial Space Systems in April 2020. Its most significant publicly described technical achievement came later that year, when a LAD vehicle launched from a palm-oil estate in Perak, Malaysia, reaching approximately 1,200 meters. The December 2020 mission was presented as the first commercial non-solid rocket launch from Southeast Asia and as a cross-border collaboration involving a privately developed hybrid-propulsion rocket. The company's longer-term roadmap has included Dorado, a suborbital sounding rocket, and Volans, a modular small satellite launch vehicle. Dorado was described as having single-stage and two-stage configurations, with proposed payload capacities of 25 kilograms to approximately 105 and 270 kilometers respectively. Volans was presented as a larger orbital vehicle designed to place payloads ranging from 60 to 500 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The proposed vehicle included a reusable architecture and an unconventional sea-recovery concept using rotating blades rather than the propulsive landing approach associated with some other launch providers. Propulsion development has remained central to the company's identity. The engineering program included early static firings of the LAD hybrid motor, later testing of the HRF1-AL subscale motor for Dorado, and planned larger H700 and H1800 motors for the Volans program. The H700 concept was associated with an oxidizer-delivery system called eRAVEN, while the proposed Volans architecture included a restartable hybrid upper-stage engine for orbital insertion and multi-payload deployment. Equatorial Space Systems also pursued international accelerator and investment support. It qualified for the Q Station Accelerator in New Mexico in 2021 and the Techstars accelerator in Los Angeles in 2022. In March 2023, the company announced that Elev8.VC, Seeds Capital, and Masik Enterprises had provided a combined investment of US$1.5 million to support Dorado development. Publicly available reference material does not establish whether the planned Dorado and Volans launch dates were achieved, and no later operational status for those vehicles is confirmed here.
History
Equatorial Space Systems was founded in Singapore in October 2017 by Simon Gwozdz and Praveen Ganapathi Perumal. The business initially operated as Equatorial Space Industries, with a stated mission of developing affordable, safe, and environmentally conscious space-launch systems based on hybrid rocket propulsion. In December of that year, it secured incubation space at The Hangar through National University of Singapore Enterprise. The company's early work combined propulsion research with efforts to establish a commercial launch business in Southeast Asia. In October 2018, Equatorial Space Industries won the Mohammad Bin Rashid Innovation Cup in Dubai. The award provided recognition during the company's formative period, before it had demonstrated a full launch vehicle. In August 2019, James Anderson joined the company as chief technology officer. Two months later, the company carried out its first reported hybrid-engine static firing, using the HRF-1AL solid-fuel formulation. This work supported the Low Altitude Demonstrator, a 2.4-meter-tall, 22-kilogram experimental rocket designed to test the propulsion system in flight. The company reorganized and adopted the Equatorial Space Systems name in April 2020. On 21 December 2020, its LAD rocket launched from the Felcra Palm Oil Estate in Perak, Malaysia, and reached an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters. The mission was described as the first commercial non-solid rocket launch from Southeast Asia and as the region's first cross-border collaboration involving a privately developed hybrid-propulsion rocket. After the LAD flight, the company described a broader vehicle portfolio. Dorado was proposed as a suborbital sounding rocket with single-stage and two-stage variants. The published design targets called for a 25-kilogram payload to approximately 105 kilometers in the single-stage configuration and approximately 270 kilometers in the two-stage configuration. The vehicle was also described as using hybrid propulsion and pyrotechnic-free payload separation. Its first launch had been targeted for 2024, but the available reference material does not confirm that the launch occurred. The larger Volans concept was presented as a modular small satellite launch vehicle for payloads between 60 and 500 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Proposed versions would have stood between approximately 12 and 30 meters tall and had a diameter of about 2 meters. The company described a reusable recovery method based on rotating blades and a restartable hybrid third stage intended to improve orbital-insertion accuracy and support deployment of multiple payloads. The available material does not establish that Volans reached flight status. Propulsion development continued with a six-second test of an HRF1-AL subscale motor in March 2022. The company associated the full-scale version of this motor with Dorado. For Volans, it planned the larger H700 hybrid motor, including an oxidizer-delivery pump called eRAVEN, and later an H1800 motor intended to provide 2 meganewtons of thrust. These were described as future development plans rather than confirmed operational products. Equatorial Space Systems pursued international ecosystem support through accelerator programs. It qualified for the Q Station Accelerator in New Mexico in October 2021 and for the Techstars accelerator in Los Angeles in January 2022. In March 2023, the company announced that Elev8.VC, Seeds Capital, and Masik Enterprises had invested US$1.5 million to fund Dorado development. No confirmed launch, acquisition, public listing, or later corporate restructuring is established by the supplied sources.
- 2023
Dorado development funding announced
[1]Equatorial Space Systems announced US$1.5 million in funding from Elev8.VC, Seeds Capital, and Masik Enterprises.
- 2022
Techstars accelerator qualification
[1]The company qualified for the Techstars accelerator in Los Angeles.
- 2021
Q Station Accelerator qualification
[1]The company qualified for the Q Station Accelerator in New Mexico.
- 2020
Rebrand to Equatorial Space Systems
[1]Equatorial Space Industries reorganized and adopted the Equatorial Space Systems name in April.
- 2020
LAD flight test
[1]The LAD rocket reached approximately 1,200 meters in Perak, Malaysia, on 21 December.
- 2019
First hybrid-engine static test
[1]The company performed its first reported hybrid-engine static firing using the HRF-1AL solid-fuel formulation.
- 2018
Mohammad Bin Rashid Innovation Cup
[1]Equatorial Space Industries won the innovation award in Dubai.
- 2017
Company founded as Equatorial Space Industries
[1]Simon Gwozdz and Praveen Ganapathi Perumal founded the company in Singapore in October 2017.
- 2017
Incubation space secured
[1]The company secured incubation space at The Hangar through National University of Singapore Enterprise in December.
Products and positioning
A Southeast Asian space-launch developer positioned around lower-cost, hybrid-propulsion rockets and regional commercial launch capability.
Experimental rocket · 2020
LAD (Low Altitude Demonstrator)
LAD is a 2.4-meter-tall, 22-kilogram experimental rocket created to flight-test Equatorial Space Systems' HRF-1 solid-fuel hybrid propulsion technology. It reached approximately 1,200 meters during a December 2020 launch from Perak, Malaysia. The mission served as a technology demonstration rather than an orbital launch and was described by the company as a major regional milestone for privately developed hybrid rockets.
Suborbital sounding rocket
Dorado
Dorado is a proposed suborbital sounding rocket using a hybrid rocket motor and pyrotechnic-free payload separation. The published concept included a single-stage version intended to carry 25 kilograms to approximately 105 kilometers and a two-stage version intended to reach approximately 270 kilometers with the same payload class. A first launch was targeted for 2024, but the supplied sources do not confirm that it occurred.
Small satellite launch vehicle
Volans
Volans is a proposed modular orbital launch vehicle intended to carry payloads of approximately 60 to 500 kilograms to low Earth orbit. The concept includes multiple vehicle sizes, a restartable hybrid third stage, and a reusable recovery system based on rotating blades for controlled sea landings. The supplied reference material describes the vehicle as a development program and does not confirm a maiden flight.
Rocket propulsion system
HRF1-AL hybrid rocket motor
HRF1-AL is a hybrid rocket motor family associated with the company's LAD and Dorado programs. Equatorial Space Systems conducted early static-fire testing in 2019 and a six-second subscale test in March 2022. The motor was intended to provide the propulsion basis for a full-scale Dorado vehicle.
Brand decisions
2023
Funding directed toward Dorado developmentOtherBackground
The company was developing Dorado as a suborbital sounding rocket and needed capital for continued vehicle and propulsion work.
Action taken
Equatorial Space Systems announced US$1.5 million raised from Elev8.VC, Seeds Capital, and Masik Enterprises.
Aftermath
The announced proceeds were intended to fund further Dorado development; later launch completion is not confirmed by the supplied sources.
Funding raised. US$1.5 million (Announced March 2023)
2020
Reorganization and rebrandingStrategyBackground
The company began as Equatorial Space Industries while developing hybrid propulsion and early launch vehicles.
Action taken
It reorganized and adopted the Equatorial Space Systems name in April 2020.
Aftermath
The rebranded company proceeded with the LAD flight demonstration later that year.
Sources1 sources
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