InspeCity Raises Fresh Funds to Help Satellites Live Longer in Space

InspeCity, a space-tech startup that grew out of IIT Bombay, has raised Rs 100 crore (about $10.5 million). The money comes from Speciale Invest, investor Ashish Kacholia, and others including Antler Elevate, Antler India, Manish Gandhi and Shastra VC.

This is not the company’s first funding. Earlier it raised around Rs 46 crore in a seed round and $1.5 million before that. The new money will be used to test its systems in real space flights and to grow its business.

What InspeCity Does

Founded in 2022 by Arindrajit Chowdhury, InspeCity works on a big problem in space: satellites do not last forever. Many stop working after a few years because they run out of fuel or develop faults. At the same time, broken satellites and leftover pieces create dangerous space debris that can hit working spacecraft.

InspeCity is building technology that can go up to space and service these satellites. The company calls this in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing. In simple words, it means fixing, refuelling or even assembling things while they are already in orbit.

The goal is to make satellites last longer and to clean up some of the mess already floating above Earth.

The Building Blocks of Their Technology

InspeCity’s main system is called VEDA. It stands for Vehicle for Life-Extension and Deorbiting Activities. VEDA is designed to work on its own once it reaches space. It can approach other satellites, check them, and carry out basic repair or fuel transfer tasks.

To make VEDA work, the company has broken the job into smaller parts. Each part has its own name and job:

• GITA is the propulsion system. It helps the servicing vehicle move around in space and change its path carefully.
• CHAKSU is the sensing and navigation unit. It uses AI to track other satellites, measure distances and guide the vehicle safely close to them.
• RAMA is a robotic arm. It can grab, hold or move parts of a satellite when needed.
• SPARSH is the docking and refuelling port. It allows the vehicle to connect with another satellite and transfer fuel without human help.

These four pieces work together. First they allow simple inspection missions. Later they support full servicing. Over time they can grow into larger platforms that stay in orbit and help many satellites.

Plans for the Next 12 to 18 Months

In the coming year and a half, InspeCity wants to fly four test missions. These will slowly prove each part of the technology in real space conditions. The missions will check propulsion, sensing, autonomous movement, the robotic arm, docking and refuelling.

Each successful test will bring the company closer to offering commercial services. Satellite operators could one day pay to have their spacecraft refuelled or repaired instead of launching expensive replacements.

A Growing Indian Space Ecosystem

InspeCity is part of a larger wave of Indian space startups. Several others have also raised money recently. Skyroot Aerospace raised $50 million. EtherealX raised $21 million. Bellatrix Aerospace secured $20 million. Digantara raised $50 million, and Agnikul Cosmos raised Rs 150 crore.

Companies such as Dhruva Space, GalaxEye and Pixxel are building satellites, cameras and data services. Together these firms are creating a fuller space industry in India — from launching rockets to watching Earth from above to keeping satellites healthy once they are in orbit.

Why Longer Satellite Life Matters

Satellites are expensive to build and launch. When one stops working early, the money spent on it is partly wasted. Extending its life by even a few years can save a lot of cost for companies and governments.

Space debris is another growing worry. Thousands of pieces of old satellites and rocket parts now circle the Earth. Even a small piece can damage a working satellite if they collide. Technology that can carefully move or de-orbit dead satellites helps keep space safer for everyone.

InspeCity’s approach starts with the most basic needs — moving, seeing, grabbing and connecting — and builds upward. By proving each step in space, the company hopes to reduce risk and show customers that its systems are reliable.

Looking Ahead

The new funds will help InspeCity move from lab tests and ground work into actual flights. Over the next year or two the team will focus on making the four planned missions successful. If those go well, commercial work can begin.

The founders and team come from a strong technical background at IIT Bombay. That foundation has helped them design systems that try to solve real problems rather than just create impressive demos.

Space is becoming more crowded and more expensive. Companies that can keep existing satellites working longer, and clean up some of the debris, will play an important role. InspeCity is one of the Indian startups trying to build that capability step by step.

With the latest funding, the company now has more resources to test its ideas in the only place that truly matters space itself. The coming missions will show how far its technology has come and how useful it can become for satellite operators around the world.