India's TakeMe2Space to launch orbital computing satellite on SpaceX rocket - Reuters

India’s space‑technology startup TakeMe2Space is preparing to launch what it describes as the country’s first orbital computing satellite. The spacecraft, designated MOI‑1A, will ride on SpaceX’s Transporter‑18 rideshare mission, scheduled for launch on 1 October. The satellite, weighing less than 50 kg, is equipped with Nvidia Orin NX edge‑computing processors and is designed to perform data processing in orbit rather than transmitting raw data back to Earth.

The MOI‑1A platform is built to run containerised artificial‑intelligence models uploaded by customers. As the satellite passes over a target area, it can analyse the collected data and downlink only the processed results, reducing the volume of information that needs to be transmitted. The satellite is powered by an onboard system delivering roughly 150 watts.

TakeMe2Space has signed 23 customers for the inaugural mission. The client list includes geographic‑information‑system firms, educational institutions and commercial users from sectors such as agriculture, mining, supply‑chain management and insurance. Among the customers is US‑based space‑data analytics company Little Place Labs.

According to the company’s founder and chief executive, the service targets users who currently pay to download large raw datasets for on‑ground processing. By performing compute tasks in orbit, the satellite aims to lower the overall cost for customers, with the premium charged for in‑space processing offset by the savings from reduced data transmission.

The launch will be the first deployment of an edge‑computing satellite from India, marking a step toward integrating artificial‑intelligence capabilities directly into space‑based platforms. TakeMe2Space plans to expand the service with subsequent satellites after the initial flight.