Chennai-based space technology startup OrbitAID has announced a $1.5 million pre-seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures. TANSIM, the Tennessee state government’s entrepreneurship promotion organization, also participated in this round.
OrbitAID is involved in refueling solutions for satellites in space and is working on building a network of refueling stations in space.
The startup will use the funding to conduct space demonstrations of docking and refueling operations, expand its facilities for on-orbit maintenance operations, and make SIDRP (Standard Interface Docking and Refueling Port) commercially ready. We are planning to move forward. The company is also working on expanding its team.
Founded in 2021 by Sakthikumar R, Nikhil Balasubramanian, and Mano Balaji K, the startup recently tested its patented SIDRP in a zero-gravity flight in Florida, which demonstrated the accuracy and accuracy of SIDRP. It is claimed to have been a major milestone in the
Within the next 12 months, OrbitAID plans to conduct an on-orbit demonstration of docking and refueling to validate its technology and operational readiness. The company also aims to achieve TRL (Technology Readiness Level) 6 for refuelable propulsion systems and win refueling contracts from governments and private space companies.
“This funding will bring us closer to innovating satellite services and ensuring a sustainable future in space by conducting on-orbit demonstrations for docking and refueling in space,” said OrbitAID Aerospace founder and CEO said CEO Sakthikumar R.
Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures said: We believe that highly innovative businesses in space technology will guide India’s journey of world domination beyond the confines of Earth. OrbitAID has been working vigorously in that direction to meet the growing demand for a robust refueling ecosystem in space for efficient utilization of spacecraft resources. ”
