Chennai-based Space Tech start-up OrbitAID has announced a $1.5-million fundraise in a pre-seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures. The round also saw participation from TANSIM, the entrepreneurship promotion body of the TN government.

OrbitAID is engaged in refuelling solutions for satellites in space and is working to create a network of fuel stations in space.

The start-up plans to use the funds to conduct an in-space demonstration of docking and refuelling operations, expand facilities for on-orbit servicing operations and advance its SIDRP (Standard Interface Docking and Refuelling Port) to commercial readiness. The company is also looking to grow its team.

Founded in 2021 by Sakthikumar R, Nikhil Balasubramanian and Mano Balaji K, the start-up recently tested its patented SIDRP on a zero gravity flight in Florida and claims it was a major milestone in SIDRP’s precision and accuracy.

In the next 12 months, OrbitAID plans to conduct in-orbit demonstrations of docking and refuelling to validate technology and operational readiness. It also aims to achieve TRL (Technology Readiness Level) 6 for its refuellable propulsion system and thus secure a refuelling contract from government or private space companies.

“With this funding, we will conduct our in-orbit demonstration in space for docking and refuelling, bringing us closer to revolutionising satellite servicing and ensuring a sustainable future in space,” Sakthikumar R, Founder and CEO, OrbitAID Aerospace, said.

Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, said: “As a deep tech-focused investor, emerging technologies within space tech, drones and IoT are of interest to us. We believe highly innovative businesses in space tech will lead India’s journey of global dominance beyond the confines of our planet. OrbitAID has been working tirelessly in that direction to meet the growing demand of a robust refuelling ecosystem in space for the efficient utilisation of spacecraft resources.”