TakeMe2Space launches AI satellite on SpaceX Oct 1
▼ Summary
– TakeMe2Space will launch India’s first orbital computing satellite, MOI-1A, via a SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare flight on October 1.
– The satellite utilizes Nvidia Orin NX chips to perform edge computing in space, allowing customers to run AI models that process data locally before sending results back to Earth.
– Twenty-three customers from various sectors including farming and insurance have booked space on the mission to utilize these custom AI capabilities.
– This launch follows the loss of the previous MOI-1 satellite due to a rocket failure and builds upon successful tests conducted with the earlier MOI-TD test satellite.
– The startup plans to develop larger networked satellites and offer in-orbit data storage services to finance and defense clients as an alternative to ground-based cloud providers.
TakeMe2Space is preparing to launch its MOI-1A satellite aboard a SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare mission on October 1. This deployment marks a significant milestone for the Hyderabad-based startup, which describes the payload as India’s first orbital computing satellite. Unlike traditional satellites that transmit raw data streams back to Earth, MOI-1A is engineered to process information directly in space, returning only analyzed results to users.
The satellite operates using Nvidia Orin NX chips, specialized hardware designed for edge computing. With a mass of less than 50kg and a power budget of approximately 150 watts, the device functions as a compact edge computer rather than a full-scale data center. Founder and CEO Ronak Samantray explained the operational model to Reuters: “Customers will load their own AI models onto it.” When the satellite passes over specific geographic coordinates selected by these clients, the onboard models execute the necessary computations and downlink only the processed outcomes.
Commercial interest in this unique capability has already materialized, with 23 customers securing space on the mission. The client roster spans diverse sectors, including mapping services, educational institutions, agriculture, mining, supply chain management, and insurance. Notable participants include Little Place Labs, a United States-based space data company. While MOI-1A represents a functional step forward, it differs from more powerful systems like those planned by Starcloud and SpaceX, which intend to utilize larger Nvidia chips typically found in ground-based data centers.
This launch follows a previous setback for the company. Its predecessor, MOI-1, was destroyed on January 12 during the failure of the third stage of ISRO’s PSLV-C62 rocket. Following that loss, TakeMe2Space pivoted quickly, securing an early launch slot on a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle, as reported by ThePrint in May. Prior to the current mission, the company successfully deployed a test satellite, MOI-TD, from Sriharikota on December 30, 2024. That prototype completed over 20 orbital tests, demonstrating successful AI tasks executed on applications uploaded from the ground.
While TakeMe2Space manufactures the majority of its satellite components domestically, it relies on external suppliers for critical subsystems such as propulsion systems, microchips, and solar cells. Looking ahead, the startup aims to develop larger, networked satellites capable of serving multiple customers simultaneously. Additionally, the company plans to offer in-orbit data storage solutions targeting banks, financial institutions, and defense entities, positioning itself as a resilient backup alternative to terrestrial cloud providers.
(Source: The Next Web)
