TakeMe2Space, a Hyderabad-based start-up, is poised to make a significant advancement in space research by launching India’s first artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory in space. This groundbreaking mission, named My Orbital Infrastructure – Technology Demonstrator (MOI-TD), is scheduled for mid-December 2024 and will be carried into orbit aboard ISRO’s PSLV C60 rocket.
The MOI-TD aims to demonstrate real-time data processing capabilities in space, which could revolutionize how satellite data is handled. Currently, satellites generate vast amounts of data daily up to petabytes—much of which can be rendered unusable due to factors like cloud cover. Traditionally, this data must be transmitted back to Earth for processing, a process that can take weeks and incur significant costs. By processing data directly in orbit, the MOI-TD will provide timely insights and drastically reduce both transmission costs and latency.
This mission not only marks a milestone for TakeMe2Space but also represents a broader shift toward making space exploration more accessible. According to Ronak Kumar Samantray, the founder and CEO of TakeMe2Space, the initiative aims to open up the space industry to a wider audience—including researchers and small companies—thus unlocking new creative potentials in space exploration.
The launch of MOI-TD is expected to pave the way for future developments in space-based computing capabilities, akin to current cloud computing services. Although currently more expensive than terrestrial options, advancements in this area could lead to significant cost reductions and environmental benefits over time.
TakeMe2Space’s upcoming launch of India’s first AI lab in space represents a transformative step in space technology and research, potentially reshaping how satellite data is utilized and expanding opportunities for innovation in the field.