Hyderabad Startups Fly on PSLV’s Return Mission
Among the co-passenger payloads is MOI-1, a 14-kg satellite developed by Hyderabad start-ups TakeMe2Space and EON Space
Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based space start-ups will be part of India’s first orbital launch of 2026, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) prepares to return the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to flight with a multi-satellite mission later this month.
Among the co-passenger payloads is MOI-1, a 14-kg satellite developed by Hyderabad start-ups TakeMe2Space and EON Space. The satellite is designed to capture Earth images and process data using onboard artificial intelligence, reducing the need to transmit large volumes of raw data to ground stations.
The PSLV-C62 mission is scheduled for January 12, at 10.17 am from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Apart from the primary payload, the ‘Anvesha’ Earth observation satellite (EOS-N1), the mission will carry MOI-1 and 17 co-passenger satellites from India and other countries.
These include AayulSAT from Bengaluru-based OrbitAID Aerospace, which will test an on-orbit refuelling concept, seen as important for extending satellite life. The Indo-Mauritius joint satellite will also be deployed. From Spain, Orbital Paradigm’s Kestrel Initial Demonstrator will test a small re-entry capsule aimed at low-cost recovery of payloads from orbit.
The flight is significant as it marks the PSLV’s return to service after the failure of the PSLV-C61 mission in late 2025. For Isro, PSLV-C62 will be its 101st orbital launch attempt and the first orbital mission of the year. A successful launch is expected to restore confidence in the PSLV as a reliable launcher and support India’s growing ecosystem of private and international space missions.
