India is poised to take a giant leap in advanced space capabilities as a private startup prepares to test critical technology that could make it the world's second nation to demonstrate satellite refuelling in orbit. On Monday, OrbitAid's 25-kilogram Ayulsat satellite will lift off aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) PSLV-C62 rocket from Sriharikota.
A Strategic Step Towards In-Space Servicing
The success of this mission will edge India closer to achieving a feat so far publicly claimed only by China, which conducted a similar demonstration last year. While details of China's mission remain sparse, no other spacefaring nation, including the United States, has openly shown this technology working in orbit. An American firm, Astroscale, is developing refuelling tech but has not yet launched it.
Ayulsat's primary role is as a target satellite to validate fluid transfer in the harsh environment of space. This initial mission is a foundational step, focusing on internal refuelling within a single spacecraft. This allows engineers to meticulously study how propellants behave in microgravity under real orbital conditions, a crucial dataset for future, more complex operations.
Validating Technology Through Rigorous Testing
In an exclusive conversation, OrbitAid's founder and CEO, Sakthikumar R, revealed that the first refuelling operation is scheduled within four hours of launch. The satellite will then undergo multiple refuelling cycles throughout its mission. "These transfers will be carried out under varying thermal conditions, pressure levels and eclipse phases to build a detailed operational handbook for future missions," Sakthikumar explained.
The Bangalore-based company has spent years in rigorous preparation, conducting extensive ground tests and experiments in simulated zero-gravity. Key achievements include:
- High- and low-pressure fluid transfer tests using propellants of different viscosities.
- Successful zero-gravity experiments in the United States that demonstrated bubble-free fuel transfer, a critical safety requirement for space operations.
Beyond fuel transfer, the mission will also validate OrbitAid's proprietary docking and refuelling interface. This hardware is designed to support future servicing missions and aligns with emerging international standards, developed in consultation with CONFERS, a global industry consortium.
Roadmap to a Two-Spacecraft Future
If Ayulsat performs as planned, OrbitAid aims to launch a follow-up "chaser" satellite within six to eight months. That subsequent mission would demonstrate close-proximity operations, docking, and finally, fuel transfer between two separate spacecraft. This is the key step towards practically extending the operational life of satellites already orbiting Earth.
The implications of mastering on-orbit servicing are profound for both strategic and commercial space endeavours:
- It can drastically reduce the need for expensive satellite replacements.
- Spacecraft stranded in incorrect orbits could be rescued and repositioned.
- Missions for communication, earth observation, and scientific satellites could be extended for years.
This mission also signals a significant shift in India's space ecosystem. The development and flight of such an advanced technological demonstrator by a private startup like OrbitAid underscores the growing role of Indian industry in pushing the frontiers of space technology, moving beyond a government-led model to a more collaborative and dynamic approach.
