Spacetech startup InspeCity Collaborates with Japanese Orbital Lasers to Tackle Space Debris

Spacetech startup InspeCity has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japanese startup Orbital Lasers to investigate laser-based solutions for space debris removal.

In a statement, InspeCity stated that the two businesses will collaborate on an experimental way to removing garbage from space using laser-equipped satellites. They will also work together on business potential in areas like satellite life extension and in-orbit assembly and manufacturing (ISAM).

The collaboration will also include cooperative market discovery, technical studies, information exchange, and regulatory compliance to enable the successful integration of their technology. In addition, the two parties will conduct a “regulatory study” of ISAM legal frameworks in India, Japan, and other key markets.

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Orbital Lasers is developing a system that will use high-power lasers to steady cooperative and non-cooperative items without requiring physical contact. By vaporizing specific regions of the object’s surface, the laser can reduce rotating motion, making debris removal or servicing easier.

These laser systems can be put on InspeCity’s robotic satellites if the startups meet the regulatory standards in India and Japan. This is when their mutual synergies come into play.

“Our collaboration with Orbital Lasers is an important step toward more sustainable and effective space operations. The combination of cutting-edge laser technology and our ISAM systems has the potential to revolutionize in-orbit life extension,” stated InspeCity cofounder and CEO Arindrajit Chowdhury.

Tadanori Fukushima, CEO of Orbital Lasers, stated that the collaboration between Japan and India is a crucial step towards advancing space technology. “We hope to revolutionize orbital operations and deliver cutting-edge solutions from Asia to the world by combining InspeCity’s expertise with OLC’s advanced laser systems.”

InspeCity’s flagship platform, VEDA (Vehicle for Life Extension and Deorbiting Activities), was founded in 2022 by IIT Bombay professor Chowdhury and his student Tausif Shaikh. It combines technologies such as propulsion, robotics, rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) to extend satellite lifespans and reduce space debris.

Last year, Antler India and Veda VC led a pre-seed fundraising round for the spacetech business, which garnered $1.5 million.

The collaboration comes at a time when the Indian startup ecosystem has experienced a surge in spacetech businesses that have earned millions of dollars in funding and developed cutting-edge products. The country’s major spacetech startups include Agnikul, Skyroot, Digantara, Pixxel, and SatSure.

According to reports, the indigenous commercial spacetech market is expected to reach $77 billion by 2030.