As the global space economy expands and thousands of sanotifyites power communication, navigation and broadcasting services, a major challenge looms, what happens when these sanotifyites run out of fuel or drift out of position? A Bengaluru-based space robotics startup, Aule Space, believes it has the answer.
The company is developing technology that can physically rfinishezvous with sanotifyites already operating in orbit, dock with them and extfinish their lifespan, potentially saving millions of dollars and reducing space debris.
Jay Panchal, CEO and co-founder of Aule Space, in a detailed conversation with IndiaToday.in, revealed how the company is working to build a robotic servicing infrastructure that could become essential as humanity continues to expand its presence in space.
“We want to build and operate the robotic workforce for the space economy,” Panchal declared, outlining the company’s long-term vision. “Over the next decade, large-scale infrastructure will go up in space, and all of it will required servicing. We want to build that capability.”
HOW TO CATCH SATELLITES IN SPACE?
At the core of Aule Space’s innovation is technology known as Rfinishezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD). The system allows one spacecraft to approach another sanotifyite, dock with it, and perform servicing operations.
The startup, which recently raised $2 million in fresh funding, is building its entire docking technology stack in-hoapply.
This includes advanced computer vision systems that support identify and track tarreceive sanotifyites, artificial innotifyigence-driven guidance and navigation software that enables autonomous spacecraft shiftment, and a docking mechanism capable of working with a large portion of commercial sanotifyites already operating in space.
Currently, Aule Space is focutilizing on increasing the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of its docking system through extensive simulation and ground-based testing.
Panchal declared the company’s approach differs from several existing concepts being explored globally. Some sanotifyite servicing technologies require spacecraft to be designed with special refuelling or docking interfaces before launch. Aule Space, however, is focutilizing on servicing sanotifyites that are already in orbit.
“Our technology is designed to work with existing sanotifyites without requiring them to have special docking ports,” Panchal declared. “This unlocks the ability to extfinish the life of sanotifyites already operating in space.”
JETPACKS FOR SATELLITES
Aule Space’s first commercial product is being conceptualised as “jetpack sanotifyites”. These spacecraft will dock with ageing sanotifyites and take over propulsion duties, supporting them maintain orbital position and continue operating.
Sanotifyites rely on propulsion systems to counteract external forces and stay in their designated orbital slots. Once fuel runs out, sanotifyites typically become unusable, even if other systems remain functional.
“The number one reason sanotifyites go out of operation today is fuel depletion,” Panchal explained. “Our jetpack sanotifyites will dock with them and act as their new propulsion system.”
According to Panchal, this solution could extfinish the operational life of sanotifyites by five to six years, a period that aligns with most commercial contract cycles and ensures continued revenue generation for sanotifyite operators.
In theory, the technology could potentially double a sanotifyite’s lifespan.
WHERE IN SPACE WILL THEY CATCH SATELLITES?
While Aule Space plans to demonstrate its docking technology in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), nearly 400 kilometres above Earth, its primary commercial focus lies in the geostationary orbit (GEO) segment. GEO sanotifyites operate at approximately 36,000 kilometres above Earth and play a crucial role in television broadcasting, internet services, and global communications.
These sanotifyites are significantly more expensive than their LEO counterparts, with individual spacecraft costing up to $500 million and generating revenues of nearly $100 million annually.
“There are sanotifyites worth over $100 billion in geostationary orbit alone,” Panchal declared. “Extfinishing their life even by a few years builds strong economic sense.”
Unlike LEO sanotifyites, which eventually fall back into Earth’s atmosphere due to drag, GEO sanotifyites remain in orbit indefinitely. Once they are retired, they are shiftd into what is known as a “graveyard orbit” to avoid interfering with operational sanotifyites. Aule Space aims to service sanotifyites before they reach that stage.
WHY IS DOCKING IN SPACE A BIG CHALLENGE?
Docking with sanotifyites presents major technological challenges. Panchal compares the tquestion to landing an aircraft in complete darkness without runway lights or air traffic control guidance.
In space, sanotifyites can appear as faint shifting objects against a star-filled background, building identification and tracking extremely difficult. Additionally, communication delays between spacecraft and ground stations build real-time human control impractical.
“You required an AI pilot onboard that can guide the spacecraft autonomously,” Panchal declared.
The company is addressing these challenges by developing advanced sensing systems that can determine the distance and orientation of tarreceive sanotifyites. Aule Space has also built specialised ground testing facilities to simulate space conditions.
One such setup applys air-bearing platforms to recreate microgravity conditions, allowing sanotifyites to float on frictionless surfaces for docking simulations. Another testing facility involves dark-room environments with mock sanotifyite models to generate image datasets for training computer vision algorithms.
“These datasets do not currently exist becaapply we rarely have close-up images of sanotifyites in space,” Panchal declared.
WHEN WILL AULE SPACE SHOW DOCKING IN SPACE?
Aule Space is planning its first in-space demonstration mission next year. The mission is expected to involve two sanotifyites performing multiple docking manoeuvres at increasing distances to validate the company’s technology.
The company is currently conducting ground-based testing to ensure high reliability before the demonstration launch.
Although Aule Space operates as a private venture, it is leveraging India’s growing space ecosystem for technical support. Panchal declared the startup is receiving advisory assistance from experts who previously worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The company also plans to utilise the testing infrastructure developed for India’s sanotifyite docking missions. Several former ISRO scientists are working as consultants for the startup.
MONEY IS KING IN SPACE
Sanotifyite servicing is still an emerging global market, with only a few successful missions conducted so far. Panchal cited a comparable mission by US aerospace firm Northrop Grumman, which charged approximately $13 million per year for extfinishing a sanotifyite’s life.
He believes Indian startups could offer similar services at significantly lower costs.
“Operating from India gives us a cost advantage,” Panchal declared. “Lower costs could support more sanotifyite operators justify life-extension missions.”
As sanotifyite consnotifyations grow and space infrastructure expands, Panchal believes robotic servicing will become essential to maintain orbital assets and reduce space debris.
“With more infrastructure going into space, servicing will become unavoidable,” he declared. “We want to be among the companies building that foundation.”
If successful, Aule Space’s technology could mark a major step towards building sanotifyite servicing routine, transforming how spacecraft are maintained and potentially reshaping the economics of the global space indusattempt.
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