This Hyderabad Startup is Building India’s First AI Lab in Orbit
TakeMe2Space, a Hyderabad-based space-tech startup, is aiming to make space more accessible by launching India’s first AI-driven space laboratory. Founded by Ronak Kumar Samantray, the company is working to change the way people interact with satellites. Unlike traditional models where satellite access is restricted to governments, defence agencies, or elite research institutions, TakeMe2Space wants to democratise space, offering real-time access to satellites for students, researchers, and businesses alike. “Our goal is to ensure that everybody’s ideas can be taken to space,” Samantray told AIM in an exclusive interview. “You don’t have to be in NASA, ISRO, or an IIT to run an experiment in space. Sitting in Kerala, Delhi, or even Antarctica, you should be able to operate a satellite.” The company recently conducted a technology demonstration mission with ISRO, proving the viability of its approach. Now, the next step is launching two fully operational satellites this year, with a long-term ambition to build the future of computing in orbit. Samantray (second from the left), along with former chairman of ISRO, S. Somanath As of last year, the Indian space economy was valued at approximately $8.4 billion, constituting a 2% share of the global space market. The country currently operates 56 active space assets, including 19 communication satellites, nine navigation satellites, four scientific satellites, and 24 earth observation satellites, as per the economic survey 2024-25. With the government aiming to scale the space economy to £44 billion by 2033, inclusive of £11 billion in exports, which would represent 7-8% of the global share, TakeMe2Space believes that accessing space should be as simple as logging into a cloud computing service. Space Can be Hands-On for the Next Generation Samantray’s motivation for TakeMe2Space comes from his background in computer science. Growing up, he had easy access to computers, which nurtured his love for coding. However, he observed that space has remained largely inaccessible to young minds. “If you’re interested in space, the most you can do today is read a research paper or maybe play with an electronics kit,” he explained. “Nobody gets to task their own satellite.” TakeMe2Space aims to bridge this gap by offering an AI-powered satellite lab. Schools and universities can subscribe, allowing students to log in remotely, upload code in Python or C++, and interact with a real satellite. “Just like how schools have computer labs, electronics labs, and robotics labs, we believe there should be a satellite lab,” said Samantray. “Our satellites will be openly accessible for students to run their personal experiments.” Samantray (left) at the Sriharikota launchpad. So far, the education sector has shown interest, but surprisingly, most early adopters are not universities. Out of 20 customers who have signed up, only four are from the education sector, while the remaining 16 are from GIS (geographic information systems) and data analytics companies. From a business point of view, the company provides “for ₹20,000 in the pricing, 90 minutes of the satellite time in orbit.” TakeMe2Space payload on board the ISRO SpaDeX Mission AI in Space is More Than Just Data Collection The integration of AI in TakeMe2Space’s model is a key differentiator. Traditionally, satellites capture raw data, which is then processed on Earth. But AI-driven satellites can process images in orbit, making decisions on what data to collect and download. One experiment conducted on TakeMe2Space’s AI lab by the University of Southampton involved using a low-power AI algorithm to reduce motion blur in satellite images. “A satellite moves at 7 km per second, so capturing a clear image is a challenge,” said Samantray. “Instead of using traditional pointing and staring techniques, AI can remove motion blur in real-time.” Samantray and the team working on the payload at TakeMe2Space. AI also allows for real-time object detection and change detection. This means satellites can prioritise what images to capture and transmit, reducing unnecessary data transmission and saving bandwidth. “Our aim is not just to provide satellite data,” Samantray emphasised. “We want to give users control of the satellite itself.” Security and Ethical Concerns With TakeMe2Space offering satellite access to a broader audience, concerns about data security and ethical usage naturally arise. Allowing individuals and businesses to task satellites in real time raises questions about privacy, misuse, and cybersecurity risks. Samantray acknowledged these challenges and detailed the safeguards the company has implemented. “We are enabling people to control a satellite, which means we have to be two steps ahead in terms of security,” he said. “Our system is designed to preemptively stop any harmful actions before they occur, rather than reacting after the fact.” To prevent unauthorised activities, TakeMe2Space does not equip its satellites with propulsion systems, ensuring they cannot be hijacked and redirected toward other objects. Additionally, the company has capped the resolution of its satellite imagery at no finer than 5 meters per pixel, preventing privacy violations. “Even if something goes wrong, no one can use our satellite for surveillance or for interfering with other space objects,” Samantray assured. On the data front, TakeMe2Space follows strict encryption protocols. Customers retain ownership of the data they generate, and the company does not store or claim rights over it. “We are like an infrastructure provider, similar to how AWS doesn’t own the applications running on its servers,” he explained. Building the Future of Space Computing in India As reiterated by the founder, TakeMe2Space does not intend to compete with conventional Earth observation firms. Rather, it envisions a future in which computing transitions to space. “We’re not here to be another Earth observation company,” said Samantray. “We want to build data centres in orbit where AI and computing happen in space, not on Earth.” By shifting heavy computation tasks to satellites, TakeMe2Space aims to reduce Earth’s power consumption. The world’s increasing reliance on AI, data storage, and cloud computing is driving exponential energy demand. Running AI models in space, where temperatures are extremely cold and heat dissipation is more efficient, could be a long-term solution. “Space gives you a very controlled and predictable temperature environment, and whatever heat you generate up there has no impact on Earth’s atmosphere. The absolute temperature of any point in space is 4 Kelvin, so as much heat as you generate, it absorbs the heat, which will just be a point of heat for space.” Looking ahead, TakeMe2Space hopes to scale its model, expanding beyond AI labs to full-fledged space computing infrastructure. The company is not reliant on government funding but sees the private sector as its primary market. “We’re building for private businesses, not just defence or government customers,” Samantray clarified. If it succeeds, the startup may redefine global interactions with satellites, making space an accessible laboratory for everyone.
The startup’s next step is launching two fully operational satellites this year, with an ambition to build in-orbit computing.
The startup’s next step is launching two fully operational satellites this year, with an ambition to build in-orbit computing.
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["AI", "analytics", "Aim", "Ray", "RAG", "object detection", "cloud computing", "AWS", "Python", "R"]
An information designer who loves to learn about and try new developments in the field of tech and AI. She likes to spend her spare time reading and exploring absurdism in literature.