Indian spacetech startups TakeMe2Space, SatLeo Labs, and EON Space Labs launched AI computing and Earth observation payloads aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Transporter-18 rideshare mission today. The mission lifted off from California, carrying TakeMe2Space’s MOI-1A satellite with EON Space Labs’ MIRA imaging system onboard, and SatLeo Labs’ TAPAS-1 thermal-imaging payload on Dhruva Space’s LEAP-2 satellite, according to inc42.com.
TakeMe2Space’s MOI-1A satellite is a 14-kg platform equipped with onboard computing capacity of 117 trillion operations per second (TOPS), 2 TB of storage, and a nine-band multispectral imager. It processes Earth observation data in orbit using AI, enabling customers to deploy AI models directly on the satellite to analyze imagery without downloading large volumes of raw data. SatLeo’s TAPAS-1 captures land-surface temperature data, while EON’s MIRA captures imagery across multiple spectral bands. TakeMe2Space founder Ronak Kumar Samantray explained that this approach reduces data download volume by a factor of 1,000, sending back only analyzed results.
This launch underscores the growing role of AI in spacetech, allowing real-time data processing in orbit and reducing reliance on ground stations. TakeMe2Space’s in-orbit computing contrasts with traditional methods that require downloading hundreds of gigabytes of raw imagery, such as synthetic-aperture radar data. The collaboration among these startups reflects India’s expanding presence in satellite technology and AI-powered Earth observation, complementing Dhruva Space’s LEAP-2 satellite efforts.
The Transporter-18 mission marks a milestone for Indian spacetech innovation, with MOI-1A’s AI capabilities expected to enhance Earth observation applications. The satellite’s ability to process data onboard and send concise insights is poised to improve efficiency for customers relying on satellite imagery, as detailed by inc42.com.