Chennai-based OrbitAID Aerospace has inaugurated a 6,500 square feet research and development facility in Bengaluru to strengthen India’s space capabilities in on-orbit refuelling and satellite servicing. The launch event took place in the presence of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V Narayanan.
The new centre will support India’s upcoming missions by extending satellite life, reducing space debris and enabling sustainable space operations. Speaking at the event, Narayanan said the facility marks “a monumental milestone in our mission to revolutionise on-orbit refuelling and satellite servicing”.
This development comes just after the startup raised $1.5 million in January this year. This was during a pre-seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures, with additional participation from the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (StartupTN).
The funds were to be used to scale the company’s patented Standard Interface Docking and Refuelling Port for commercial use.
Advanced Testbeds & Labs
The R&D facility houses a dedicated Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking testbed for autonomous manoeuvre validation, an advanced fuel transfer laboratory for leak-proof propellant technology and a cleanroom for precise satellite assembly and testing.
OrbitAID stated in a LinkedIn post that the in-house infrastructure will accelerate its mission timelines and support India’s transition towards a circular space economy. CEO Sakthikumar R described the opening as a step forward in developing critical technologies such as docking, refuelling and space robotics.
The ceremony brought together senior officials and international delegates, including Lt Gen AK Bhatt (retd), director general of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), who emphasised the importance of “building synergy through public–private partnerships”.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen indigenous technologies to foster self-reliance in the space sector. Consuls general from Germany, Italy and Switzerland and representatives from StartupTN, ISRO and foreign trade bodies also attended.
ISpA congratulated OrbitAID, noting in a LinkedIn post that the facility is “an important step in advancing India’s capabilities in sustainable space operations”.
Sudheer Kumar N, former director of capacity building and public outreach at ISRO, also added, “These technologies are very critical for the upcoming space missions of sustainability, Bharatiya Antariksh Station and debris removal.”
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