TakeMe2Space and SpaceX Partner to Launch India's First Orbital Data Centre in 2028
Hyderabad-based spacetech startup TakeMe2Space has signed an agreement to launch two Generation-2 orbital data centre satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in late 2028. The mission will validate India's first interconnected orbital edge computing network in low Earth orbit. Each 100 kg satellite will feature Nvidia Thor GPUs and 100 TB of storage to process data directly in space.
What happened
Hyderabad-based spacetech firm TakeMe2Space announced an agreement on 28 September 2026 to launch two Generation-2 (Gen-2) data centre satellites into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch arrangement was facilitated through Paris-based mission management firm RIDE! Space in partnership with SEOPS under the Waymaker 2 rideshare mission, scheduled for late 2028.
The mission will place both 100 kg satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometres. Designed to establish India's first interconnected orbital edge computing setup, each satellite is equipped with 10 Nvidia Thor GPUs, 100 TB of onboard storage capacity, silicon solar panels generating roughly 1.5 kW of power, and a 1-metre ground resolution multispectral imager.
To function collectively as a distributed spaceborne computer, the two satellites will communicate using optical inter-satellite laser links. This configuration runs on TakeMe2Space's proprietary 'OrbitLab' operating software, allowing raw satellite imagery and sensor data to be processed and filtered directly in orbit, which significantly decreases the data volume that needs to be transmitted to ground stations.
This late 2028 mission serves as the first data-centre-grade deployment within TakeMe2Space's planned six-satellite My Orbital Infrastructure (MOI) constellation. Key onboard hardware components—including reaction wheels, fine sun sensors, and the 'StarSense' star tracker—were developed domestically with support from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) under its Technology Adoption Fund.
The company, established in 2023 by Founder and CEO Ronak Kumar Samantray, previously launched the MOI-TD technology demonstrator on 30 December 2024 and tested its PowerBank-50 battery on Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 on 18 July 2026. Prior to the 2028 mission, it scheduled the launch of MOI-1a aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 mission on 1 October 2026, alongside an upcoming MOI-1b launch on ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
Important dates
| Launch of MOI-TD technology demonstrator | 30 December 2024 |
|---|---|
| Loss of MOI-1 during ISRO PSLV-C62 mission | January 2026 |
| Flight testing of PowerBank-50 on Skyroot Vikram-1 | 18 July 2026 |
| Announcement of SpaceX launch agreement | 28 September 2026 |
| Scheduled launch of MOI-1a on SpaceX Transporter-18 | 1 October 2026 |
| Targeted Falcon 9 launch of Gen-2 orbital data centres | Late 2028 |
📌 Static GK links
- TakeMe2Space Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana (Founded in 2023 by Ronak Kumar Samantray).
- IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre): Single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space to facilitate and authorize private space sector activities in India.
- SpaceX Falcon 9: A partially reusable, two-stage launch vehicle designed and operated by American aerospace firm SpaceX.
- Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO): A polar orbit where the satellite passes over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same mean local solar time, offering consistent illumination for imaging.
- Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISL): Space-based optical communication systems that utilize laser beams to transfer high-bandwidth data directly between satellites without ground routing.
What candidates should do
- Track the growing role of Indian spacetech startups and international commercial launch collaborations for Science and Technology questions.
- Memorize the functions and schemes of IN-SPACe, particularly the Technology Adoption Fund supporting domestic space components.
- Review technical terms related to satellite orbits, including Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
PrepZen analysis
The partnership between TakeMe2Space and SpaceX highlights a major technological shift from conventional Earth observation to in-orbit edge processing. Traditional satellites send massive raw data files down to ground stations, creating downlink bottlenecks and latency delays. By deploying Nvidia Thor GPUs and high-capacity storage directly in space, the Gen-2 satellites can run AI workloads through their OrbitLab software and filter crucial analytical outputs before transmission.
For competitive examinations, this development is a prime case study under the indigenisation of technology and space sector reforms. Candidates should focus on the institutional backing provided by IN-SPACe, the mechanics of optical inter-satellite links, and how private Indian startups are integrating into the global commercial supply chain alongside entities like SpaceX, RIDE! Space, and Skyroot Aerospace.
Practice questions
Q1. Which Indian spacetech startup partnered with SpaceX to launch India's first interconnected orbital data centre network in late 2028?
Q2. Which technology will be used by TakeMe2Space's Gen-2 satellites to link with each other and operate as a distributed computing node in space?
Q3. The indigenous 'StarSense' star tracker and reaction wheels used in TakeMe2Space's satellites were supported under which official initiative?
Two Gen-2 satellites will launch on a Falcon 9 in late 2028.
Project validates India's first interconnected orbital edge data center network.
Each 100 kg satellite incorporates Nvidia GPUs and 100 TB storage capacity.
🎯 Key Point: TakeMe2Space and SpaceX partner to launch orbital data centers in 2028.
FAQs
What is the primary objective of TakeMe2Space's 2028 mission with SpaceX?
The mission aims to validate India's first interconnected orbital edge data centre network by launching two 100 kg Gen-2 satellites equipped with Nvidia Thor GPUs and 100 TB of storage capacity to process data directly in orbit.
Which launch vehicle will carry the Gen-2 satellites into space?
The satellites will be launched on SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle under the Waymaker 2 rideshare mission into a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit.
What is the MOI constellation planned by TakeMe2Space?
The MOI (My Orbital Infrastructure) constellation is a planned six-satellite network designed to provide in-orbit computing, imaging, and edge analytics infrastructure.
What software platform will run on these orbital data centre satellites?
The satellites will utilize TakeMe2Space's proprietary 'OrbitLab' platform to execute AI workloads and edge analytics directly on satellite data.
Sources
- indiatimes.com (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- startuppedia.in (startuppedia.in)
- startupfox.in (startupfox.in)
- business-standard.com (www.business-standard.com)
Prepared by the PrepZen Editorial Team from official releases and verified reports, for exam preparation. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
Practice Quiz — 28 September 2026
Q1. Who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)?
Q2. Which bank has appointed actor R. Madhavan as its brand ambassador alongside launching the 'Nothing Small About Us' campaign?
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India's first LNG-powered train: 1. It was flagged off from Sabarmati Railway Station in Gujarat. 2. The train runs exclusively on LNG fuel. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q4. Where is the 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) being held?
Q5. Which mountaineering institute's team summited 20 unclimbed peaks above 6,000 meters in Ladakh in just 23 days?
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