With a $2 million investment and India’s largest private RPOD infrastructure, OrbitAID’s Bengaluru facility signals a new era in satellite life extension and space-tech innovation.
OrbitAID Aerospace, India’s first spacetech startup focused on on-orbit servicing and refuelling (OOSR), has inaugurated a state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility in Bengaluru. Spanning 6,500 sq ft and backed by an investment of over $2 million, the facility marks a major milestone in India’s space sustainability journey.
The centre was formally inaugurated by V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), who lauded OrbitAID’s efforts in advancing docking and refuelling technologies. He noted that ISRO’s recent SPADeX mission had laid the groundwork for private sector participation in OOSR, and future missions would actively engage companies like OrbitAID.
OrbitAID’s new facility is India’s largest commercial infrastructure for rendezvous proximity operations and docking (RPOD), and among the biggest globally. It houses a high-end control room, a Class 10,000 cleanroom, and fuel transfer systems for satellite assembly and integration. The centre will support lifetime extension services for current and upcoming satellites.
“This facility begins a new chapter in OrbitAID’s mission to position India as a global champion of space sustainability,” said Sakthikumar Ramachandran, Founder & CEO. “With our TRL-7 docking and refuelling interface SIDRP, we are ready to serve both domestic and international satellite markets.”
OrbitAID’s early investor, Unicorn India Ventures, reaffirmed its support for the startup’s disciplined and scalable growth.
OrbitAID also announced plans to expand into Tamil Nadu, where it will establish a manufacturing facility and ecosystem partnerships to build India’s first private propellant handling and satellite servicing hub. The company aims to collaborate with universities, startups, and global partners across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Together, the Bengaluru R&D centre and Tamil Nadu expansion will serve as foundational pillars for OrbitAID’s future missions and India’s leadership in next-generation space infrastructure