Indian startup ready to launch petrol pump in space, test refuelling outside Earth

An Indian space startup is preparing to demonstrate a technology that could one day allow satellites to refuel in orbit, potentially extending their operational lives and reducing the need to replace expensive spacecraft when they run out of fuel.
OrbitAID Aerospace, founded by Sakthikumar R, is gearing up to launch a satellite weighing around 30 kg aboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in November 2026.
The satellite, dubbed AayulSAT-1A, will demonstrate docking, internal refuelling and inspection capabilities, laying the groundwork for commercial in-space servicing.
“The satellite is ready. We are planning to complete the final tests next week, following which it will be shipped to Sriharikota for launch preparations,” Sakthikumar, founder and CEO of OrbitAID Aerospace, told IndiaToday.in in an exclusive conversation.
The launch date has not yet been confirmed, with the company indicating a tentative window around mid-November.
The mission will carry two satellite buses, two tanks and the interfaces and mechanisms required for the experiments. OrbitAID aims to validate its docking and refuelling mechanisms through the demonstration.
While the mission builds on capabilities the company had planned to demonstrate earlier, Sakthikumar said it would not be merely a replacement for the mission affected by the PSLV failure in January this year. The company has incorporated additional payloads and capabilities into its plans.
Some onboard innovations will remain undisclosed until after the launch, he said.
The idea behind orbital refuelling is straightforward: instead of abandoning a satellite when its fuel runs low, a servicing spacecraft could rendezvous with it, dock and replenish its propellant supply.
Such capabilities could help extend satellite lifetimes, reduce replacement costs and support a future in which spacecraft are serviced rather than routinely discarded. However, these benefits depend on the technology being demonstrated and scaled up for operational use.
OrbitAID’s November mission is an early step towards that goal. The company plans to use the results to develop commercially available in-space servicing technologies for future satellite customers.
Source: India Today