Countdown Begins for PSLV-C62 Launch, ISRO to Fly First Space Mission of 2026 Today

New Delhi: India is getting very close to a step that till now has been the capability of only a few countries. Our plan is to show the refueling of a satellite in orbit. If this work is successful, India will become only the second country to demonstrate this technology. This technology will help in increasing the lifespan of satellites in space and conducting future missions in a responsible manner.

How is this mission different?

In this mission, a small 25 kg satellite named AayulSAT will be sent into orbit with ISRO's PSLV-C62 rocket. This satellite will mainly show how liquid fuel can be transferred inside a satellite in orbit. This is not a complete refueling mission like larger missions do, but it is an important first step that will lay the foundation for larger refueling missions in the future.

What will be the benefits of this technology?

If it is possible to fuel satellites in orbit, their life span could be significantly increased. Today many satellites stop working due to running out of fuel and are left as “junk” in space. This new technology will give longer life to satellites and will also reduce unnecessary waste in space. This will save both cost and resources for future space missions.

Which countries are ahead in this field?

So far, only China has publicly demonstrated this technology in the form of in-orbit refueling. Some private companies in America are also working on this technology, but they have not yet proved it experimentally in the classroom. If AayulSAT is successful then India can adopt this technology and take steps towards implementing it globally.

What is the plan ahead?

The founders of OrbitAID have said that after this mission, a “chaser” satellite will be sent which will dock with AayulSAT and perform the actual refueling. This will further strengthen India's capability in this field and will pave the way for running space services in a new way.