India's TakeMe2Space to launch orbital computing satellite on SpaceX rocket

BENGALURU, September 28 - Indian space startup TakeMe2Space aims to launch its first orbital computing satellite aboard a SpaceX rocket on October 1, processing data in orbit instead of transmitting raw information back to Earth. The MOI-1A satellite, weighing under 50 kg and equipped with Nvidia Orin NX edge-computing processors, will fly on SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission.

The company has secured 23 customers, including GIS firms, educational institutions, and commercial users in agriculture, mining, supply-chain management, and insurance, CEO Ronak Samantray confirmed. Customers can upload AI models, allowing the satellite to process data as it passes over specified areas and transmit the analysis back to Earth, rather than the entire dataset.

This approach reduces costs for customers who need to download large amounts of raw data before performing computations. The spacecraft, an onboard edge-computing satellite, has around 150 watts of power, compared to more advanced Nvidia chips used in terrestrial data centers by companies like SpaceX and Starcloud. TakeMe2Space plans to build larger, networked satellites for multiple customers and offers cold storage in orbit for critical data, targeting financial-services and defense customers.

The company designs and manufactures most satellite subsystems in India, sourcing chips, solar cells, and propulsion systems externally, with plans for larger satellites starting in 2027.