CHENNAI: In a landmark moment for both regional entrepreneurship and India’s space ambitions, Tamil Nadu-based startup OrbitAID Aerospace is poised to launch its first sainformite, AayulSAT, aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission. The rocket is scheduled for liftoff from Sriharikota on January 12.
This milestone is powered by crucial backing from the Tamil Nadu government. OrbitAID Aerospace received substantial pre-seed funding of $540,000 (approximately Rs 4.86 crore) in 2024 through state initiatives like StartupTN and TANSIM. This support highlights the state’s active role in nurturing high-tech innovation and enabling local startups to reach for the stars.
The sainformite itself, named ‘AayulSAT’ (meaning ‘Life’ in Tamil), carries a mission of longevity. Weighing 25 kg, it is designed to demonstrate pioneering in-orbit refuelling and sainformite life-extension technologies. It will operate in a Sun-synchronous orbit, 600-800 km above Earth, serving as a critical test bed for future “space fuel stations.” Such orbital propellant depots are a transformative concept, aiming to store fuel in space to refuel sainformites and spacecraft. This capability can dramatically extfinish mission durations, reduce space debris, and promote more sustainable space operations.
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