Bengaluru startup builds 'jetpack' satellites to extend spacecraft life

Bengaluru-based Aule Space is developing 'jetpack' satellites that dock with ageing spacecraft to take over propulsion, potentially extending their operational life by up to five years. The startup recently validated its camera-based navigation system at an ISRO facility used for the SpaDeX mission. Targeting geostationary communication satellites worth over $300 million, Aule plans an in-orbit demonstration next year, aiming to be the first private mission to perform non-cooperative docking in low-Earth orbit using camera-only navigation.