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OrbitAID Readies AyulSAT Launch to Test In‑Orbit Refuelling Interface

The Chennai startup frames the flight as the first step toward orbital servicing through a proprietary refuelling port.

Overview

  • The 25‑kg AyulSAT is slated to lift off on ISRO’s PSLV‑C62 on Monday to validate internal propellant, power and data transfers using OrbitAID’s Standard Interface for Docking and Refuelling Port.
  • OrbitAID says the first tank‑to‑tank fuel transfer could occur within about four hours of launch, with multiple cycles planned under varied thermal and eclipse conditions.
  • AyulSAT serves as the target for a later Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking mission, with a dedicated chaser that the company plans to launch in 2026 to attempt docking and cross‑spacecraft refuelling.
  • The firm positions the capability as a route to satellite life extension, debris reduction and an on‑orbit servicing economy, aligning its goals with India’s Debris‑Free Space Mission 2030.
  • Claims and timelines are company statements reported by media, and the demonstrations await in‑orbit execution and independent verification.