Isro to launch startup's satellite refuelling mission with PSLV-C62: What is it?

AayulSAT aims to extend satellite lifespans by enabling refuelling and servicing in orbit, addressing space debris and sustainability challenges.

AayulSAT will demonstrate on-orbit propellant, power & data transfer. (Photo: OrbitAid)

 

Bengaluru-based space startup OrbitAID Aerospace is set to make history with AayulSAT, India’s first on-orbit satellite refuelling payload aboard Isro’s PSLV-C62 mission.

Scheduled for liftoff on January 12, 2026, at 10:17 AM IST from the First Launch Pad at Sriharikota, the mission deploys EOS-N1 (Anvesha) as its primary Earth observation satellite alongside 18 co-passengers, including this groundbreaking technology demonstrator.

WHAT IS AAYULSAT?

AayulSAT aims to extend satellite lifespans by enabling refuelling and servicing in orbit, addressing space debris and sustainability challenges.

OrbitAID’s proprietary Satellite Interface for Docking and Refuelling Protocol (SIDRP) docking interface promises compatibility with both Indian and international satellites.

 

“AayulSAT is more than a mission, it’s the foundation of the on-orbit economy,” declares Sakthikumar Ramachandran, Founder and CEO of OrbitAID Aerospace.

BUILDING ON ISRO’S SPADEX SUCCESS

This demo follows Isro’s SPADeX mission in early 2025, which successfully validated docking between two satellites in space, India’s first such feat.

OrbitAID leverages those insights to commercialise on-orbit services, positioning India as a key player in global space infrastructure.

Ramachandran emphasises collaboration with local universities, startups, and international partners to scale capabilities.

STARTUP’S STRATEGIC FUNDING BOOST

OrbitAID secured seed investment in 2026 from Unicorn India Ventures. Managing Partner Bhaskar Majumdar praised the firm’s disciplined approach:

“OrbitAID demonstrates the ability to achieve audacious goals while remaining prudent with capital.” This funding fuels the development of refuelling depots and robotic servicing arms.

PSLV-C62 marks Isro’s first launch of 2026, and the 64th PSLV flight using the DL variant with two strap-on boosters.

It rebounds from the PSLV-C61 failure, reaffirming the launcher’s reliability for small satellites. Other notable payloads include MOI-1 (AI-enabled Earth imaging from Hyderabad startups), IMJS (Indo-Mauritius joint satellite), and Spain’s KID reentry capsule.

Success of AayulSAT could spark an Indian on-orbit servicing industry, reducing launch costs and enabling reusable satellites. As Ramachandran notes, it advances India’s role in sustainable space efforts amid growing private sector participation.

Quelle: INDIA TODAY