SpaceX launches Starship rocket on first satellite mission

Indian space startup TakeMe2Space is set to launch its first orbital computing satellite, the MOI-1A, aboard a SpaceX rocket on October 1. The sub-50 kg satellite, equipped with Nvidia Orin NX edge-computing processors, aims to process data in orbit rather than transmit raw information back to Earth. TakeMe2Space has secured 23 customers for the mission, ranging from geographic information system companies to educational institutions.

These commercial users include sectors such as agriculture, mining, supply-chain management, and insurance. Founder and CEO Ronak Samantray explained that customers can upload containerized AI models to the satellite, which processes data as it passes over a specified area and transmits the analysis back to Earth. This reduces costs by minimizing data download requirements.

TakeMe2Space plans to build larger, networked satellites in the future to serve multiple customers, while its earlier technology-demonstration mission in late 2024 validated its capabilities. Additionally, the company aims to offer cold storage in orbit for critical data, targeting financial-services and defense customers. The startup designs and manufactures most satellite subsystems in India, sourcing chips, solar cells, and propulsion systems from external suppliers, with plans for larger satellites starting in 2027 to increase computing capacity and reduce costs.