Manastu Space, a space startup located in Mumbai, announced that it has successfully tested its in-house Vyom 2U thruster on board the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM).

The thruster transferred angular momentum and tilted the platform 24 degrees before the onboard systems took back control.

With the fourth stage of the PSLV-C60 rocket, which launched the SpaDeX satellites this week, the POEM-4 platform has been launched into a 350-kilometer orbit where a number of ISRO labs, startups, and academic institutions will conduct in-orbit experiments.

"We test-fired our green propulsion system Vyom-2U onboard the POEM-4 on the New Year's eve," Manastu Space founder and CEO Tushar Jadhav.

He claimed that before onboard systems smoothly regained control, the 30-second thruster firing tilted the PSLV POEM-4 platform by 24 degrees, delivering an angular velocity of 0.5 deg per second.

"Over the coming days, PSLV will perform multiple critical maneuvers, culminating in 500+ seconds of cumulative in-space firing time, cementing the success of this In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of Manastu Space's Green Propulsion system VYOM 2U based on MS289 green propellant," the startup said.

"We are deeply grateful to ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization - and IN-SPACe for providing an incredible platform like POEM to test our product and many others...," the startup said.

The thrusters use MS289 propellant, a hydrogen peroxide blend that has replaced the carcinogenic propellants based on hydrazine that satellites have been using up until now.

Experiments on the POEM-4 include testing green propulsion technologies, demonstrating seed germination in orbit, and deploying a robotic arm to capture stranded debris there.

The POEM is carrying 24 experiments -- 14 from various ISRO labs and 10 from private institutions and companies -- to demonstrate various technologies in space.