Satellites don’t have many options when they run out of fuel, but a wave of startups are attempting to crack refueling on orbit.
One of these companies—Bengaluru-based Aule Space—has taken a straightforward approach: jetpacks. Today, Aule announced the closing of $2M in pre-seed funding to develop spacecraft that will be able to grapple onto existing sats in GEO (no preassembly required) and provide up to six years of extra propulsion.
The round was led by pi Ventures with additional angel investment from former Intelsat board member Eash Sundaram, and Arvind Lakshmikumar, CEO of Tonbo Imaging, an Indian defense firm developing optical sensors.
How to build a jetpack: Aule plans to use the funds to develop AI-powered GNC software, and build its first spacecraft in time to launch a demonstration mission in 2027. Down the line, Aule envisions the tech providing a suite of capabilities beyond life extension, such as non-Earth imaging and spacecraft inspection to commercial and defense customers.
“For the entire in-space servicing economy to kick off, the first step will be the GEO life extension [missions] because these are the satellites which are the most expensive and highest revenue generating assets in space today,” CEO Jay Panchal told Payload.
Aule’s technology doesn’t require any new hardware on customer satellites, as it intends to grab onto the thruster nozzle of GEO spacecraft. 80% of GEO spacecraft operating today are compatible with Aule’s life extension service, according to Panchal.
While Aule develops its software systems in-house, it aims to source as many of the spacecraft components as possible—including propulsion systems and sensors—from India’s growing space supply chain. It’s all about keeping costs lower than everyone else.
“Operating out of India, competing with global companies…one of the unfair advantages that we have is the cost advantage,” Panchal said. “To make a business case for life extension, the cost is the most sensitive thing, and that is in our favor.”
Flying high: Aule also plans to ride the wave of investment that the space sector has received from the Indian government.
The company has received a $90,000 grant from India’s IN-SPACe office, a government body promoting the country’s commercial space sector, and is in talks with the government to fly RPO missions for the country’s military, according to Panchal.
“Space is new for India, but it is unlocking, and the funding will flow,” Panchal said.
