Indian Startup Raises $12M to Fix Broken Satellites in Space

Imagine a million-dollar satellite running out of fuel while hurtling through space at 27,000 kilometers per hour, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

That frustrating reality is about to change. InspeCity, a spacetech startup based in Thane, India, just raised Rs 100 crore (about $12 million) to build robots that can repair, refuel, and rescue satellites while they're still in orbit.

The funding round was led by Speciale Invest and technology investor Ashish Kacholia, with support from Antler Elevate, Antler India, and others. The money will help InspeCity move from laboratory testing to actual space missions.

Founded in 2022 by IIT professors Arindrajit Chowdhury and Tausif Shaikh, the company is tackling two problems at once. First, satellite operators lose millions when their equipment fails in space. Second, broken satellites create dangerous debris that threatens active spacecraft.

InspeCity's solution is VEDA, an autonomous platform equipped with robotic arms and AI-powered sensors. The system can locate struggling satellites, dock with them, and perform repairs or refueling without bringing them back to Earth.

The company built everything in-house, including GITA, a green propulsion system, CHAKSU, an AI navigation sensor, and RAMA, a robotic arm that moves like a human hand. This vertical integration makes their technology cheaper than similar systems being developed elsewhere in the world.

To prove it works, InspeCity plans four sequential missions starting with RIG-E, which will map flight paths and locate targets in orbit. Each mission will test increasingly complex maneuvers, building toward full repair and refueling capabilities.

The startup has already partnered with Japanese firm Orbital Lasers to combine space lasers with robotic arms, making it safer to capture spinning objects in orbit. Part of the new funding will also support projects under India's defense innovation program.

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough matters beyond just saving satellites. Every successful in-orbit repair means one less rocket launch, reducing costs and environmental impact. It also means extending the life of critical infrastructure that powers everything from weather forecasting to global communications.

By keeping satellites operational longer and removing dangerous debris, InspeCity is helping make space more sustainable for everyone. The company is building the infrastructure that future space economies will depend on.

"We asked: if meaningful economic activity moves beyond Earth, what machines must exist first?" Chowdhury explains. That question led to technology that's now becoming reality.

As commercial space activity booms, someone needs to be the mechanic in orbit, and India is stepping up to fill that role.