TakeMe2Space, an Indian space startup, is set to launch an orbital computing satellite, MOI-1A, on October 1. The satellite will be deployed aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission, marking a significant step in in-orbit data processing.
The MOI-1A satellite, weighing under 50 kg, is equipped with Nvidia Orin NX edge-computing processors. This technology allows for data processing in space, transmitting only the analysis back to Earth rather than the raw data. This approach is expected to benefit sectors such as agriculture, mining, supply-chain management, and insurance, according to Ronak Samantray, Founder and CEO of TakeMe2Space.
The company has already secured 23 customers for this mission, including geographic information system companies and educational institutions. Among these customers is the US-based space data analytics firm Little Place Labs. Samantray explained that customers can upload containerized AI models to the satellite, which processes data over specific areas, reducing the need to download large datasets.
“The customer who sees value in our first-generation satellites is the one paying to download a lot of raw data and then do the compute, ” Samantray noted. “The reduction in the cost of not downloading it offsets the premium they pay for compute in orbit.”
Unlike traditional data centers, the MOI-1A functions as an onboard edge-computing satellite, operating with about 150 watts of power. While companies like SpaceX and Starcloud plan to use more advanced Nvidia chips for terrestrial data centers, TakeMe2Space is focusing on its niche of in-orbit processing.
Looking ahead, the startup aims to develop larger, networked satellites capable of serving multiple customers simultaneously. This follows a successful technology-demonstration mission in late 2024, which validated their ability to upload applications, perform AI inference in orbit, and download results. However, a subsequent satellite, MOI-1, was lost due to a launch-vehicle third-stage failure.
TakeMe2Space is also exploring the possibility of offering cold storage in orbit for critical data, targeting financial services and defense sectors that require additional backup locations beyond terrestrial cloud providers. The company designs and manufactures most of its satellite subsystems in India, while sourcing chips, solar cells, and propulsion systems externally.
Plans are underway to launch larger satellites beginning in 2027, with the goal of increasing computing capacity and reducing costs. This strategic move is expected to enhance the company's ability to serve a broader range of customers and applications.
