India is on the cusp of achieving a significant milestone in space technology, potentially becoming only the second nation to demonstrate on-orbit satellite refueling. This capability, currently claimed only by China, is poised to revolutionize satellite operations by extending their lifespan and mitigating space debris.
OrbitAID Aerospace, a Chennai-based space startup, is leading the charge with its AyulSAT mission, scheduled to launch on January 12, 2026, aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C62. The mission will lift off at 10:17 AM IST from Sriharikota. AyulSAT, a 25-kg satellite, is designed to validate fuel transfer in the space environment. While not a full on-orbit refueling demonstration, this first step focuses on internal refueling within the satellite. This allows engineers to study how fluids behave in microgravity under real orbital conditions. The first refueling is expected to occur within four hours of launch.
Sakthikumar Ramachandran, founder and CEO of OrbitAID Aerospace, envisions AyulSAT as "the foundation of the on-orbit economy". The company aims to establish "fuel stations in orbit" to extend the life of satellites in both low Earth and geosynchronous orbits. OrbitAID is also planning to launch a "chaser" satellite later in 2026, which will dock with AyulSAT to demonstrate actual in-orbit refueling. AayulSAT will serve as the target satellite for their first Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) mission.
The AyulSAT mission utilizes a proprietary Satellite Interface for Docking and Refuelling Protocol (SIDRP), which is designed to be compatible with both Indian and international satellites. The satellite will use propane, a non-toxic green fuel, for attitude control, station-keeping, and small adjustments. Propane is cheaper and safer than hydrazine, allowing OrbitAID to study fuel transfer dynamics in microgravity.
This initiative aligns with India's goal of achieving cleaner orbits by 2030 and supports sustainable space missions. By enabling satellite life extension, the mission contributes to reducing orbital debris, a growing concern in the space community. The success of AyulSAT could also catalyze the development of an Indian on-orbit servicing industry, reducing launch costs and enabling reusable satellites.
ISRO has been actively encouraging private sector participation in space activities. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan has emphasized the importance of technologies like docking and refueling interfaces and the significance of life extension services for satellites. OrbitAID's new R&D facility in Bengaluru, inaugurated in September 2025, is India's largest commercial facility for Rendezvous Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) infrastructure.
The PSLV-C62 mission will also carry EOS-N1 (Anvesha), a primary Earth observation satellite developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). EOS-N1 is a hyperspectral imaging satellite for strategic applications like border surveillance. The mission includes 15 co-passengers, including MOI-1, an AI-enabled Earth imaging satellite from Hyderabad startups, IMJS, an Indo-Mauritius joint satellite, and KID, a reentry capsule from Spain.
