Shuffle News | Vol.126《班加罗尔初创公司融资 200 万美元研发卫星对接技术》
原文来源：INDIA TODAY
原文日期：2026年1月15日
原文链接：
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/bengaluru-startup-save-dying-satellites-jetpack-aule-space-india-satellite-life-extension-funding-pi-ventures-space-tech-2852535-2026-01-15
Funding and Mission: Tackling Orbital Waste
融资与使命：直面轨道垃圾问题
Aule Space, a deep-tech startup based in Bengaluru, has secured $2 million (Rs 16 crore) in pre-seed funding to solve one of the most expensive problems in the space industry: orbital waste.
The investment round was led by the Bengaluru-based firm pi Ventures. The capital is earmarked for the development of autonomous “jetpack” satellites designed to dock with and extend the life of ageing spacecraft.
A Disposable Space Economy
一次性使用的太空经济模式
Currently, the space industry operates on a disposable model. Geostationary communication satellites worth an estimated $100 billion (Rs 10,000 crore) are routinely abandoned once they exhaust their fuel.
Despite having functional electronics and sensors, these assets become orbital driftwood because they can no longer maintain their precise positions.
A Celestial “Handshake”
在太空中完成一次“握手”
The company aims to build autonomous satellites that can perform a celestial “handshake” with ageing spacecraft.
GIVING LEGACY SATELLITES A SECOND LEASE OF LIFE
让老卫星重获新生
The challenge is immense. Most satellites currently in orbit were never designed to be serviced.
They are “non-cooperative,” meaning they do not have handles or docking ports.
它们属于“非合作目标”，也就是说没有把手或对接口。
Aule Space is solving this by creating a docking mechanism powered by advanced AI.
Aule Space 正通过开发由先进人工智能驱动的对接机制来解决这一问题。
Aule Space is developing autonomous robots to perform the first orbital service missions for Indian space tech.
Aule Space 正在研发自主机器人，用于执行印度航天技术领域的首次在轨服务任务。
These robotic mechanics use Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms to safely approach, manoeuvre, and physically attach to a host satellite.
Once attached, the Aule “jetpack” takes over the steering, using its own fuel to keep the host satellite in its correct orbital slot for up to six additional years.
This not only saves companies from the massive cost of launching replacements but also addresses the growing crisis of space debris.
A Vision for the In-Space Economy
面向在轨经济的未来愿景
Founded in 2024 by a team of engineers with experience at Pixxel and the European Space Agency (Esa), Aule Space is the first Indian firm tackling life extension for high-value GEO satellites.
With their new funding, they plan to launch demonstration satellites next year to prove that their robotic workforce can handle the harsh realities of docking in a vacuum.
As launch costs fall, the next phase of the space economy will rely on in-orbit assembly and maintenance.
Aule Space aims to be the backbone of this new frontier, ensuring that our reach into the stars is both sustainable and smart.
