Insider Brief
- Space Machines Company has partnered with LeoLabs to support its upcoming Space MAITRI mission, an on-orbit servicing and space debris mitigation demonstration scheduled for launch in early 2026.
- This collaboration integrates LeoLabs’ advanced safety and tracking solutions into the mission lifecycle, marking a step forward for sustainable space operations.
- Space MAITRI is a joint effort between Australia and India under the ISI India Projects program, funded by the Australian Space Agency. The mission aims to advance technologies for managing space debris and promoting a sustainable space environment.
Australia’s Space Machines Company has partnered with LeoLabs to support its upcoming Space MAITRI mission, an on-orbit servicing and space debris mitigation demonstration scheduled for launch in early 2026. This collaboration integrates LeoLabs’ advanced safety and tracking solutions into the mission lifecycle, marking a step forward for sustainable space operations.
Space MAITRI is a joint effort between Australia and India under the ISI India Projects program, funded by the Australian Space Agency. The mission aims to advance technologies for managing space debris and promoting a sustainable space environment.
New Space India Limited will launch Space Machines Company’s Optimus orbital servicing vehicle into low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard an Indian Space Agency Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. Once in orbit, Optimus will conduct close-proximity inspections of a space object through a series of propulsive maneuvers. The vehicle will then spend several months examining space debris to demonstrate cost-effective space sustainability solutions.
LeoLabs will provide a comprehensive suite of services, including pre-mission planning, launch and early operations support, and safety-of-flight solutions. By integrating LeoLabs’ tracking and maneuver planning capabilities into its mission control systems, Space Machines Company aims to enhance debris monitoring and risk mitigation for the mission.
“This partnership strengthens our capabilities and ensures the safety and sustainability of future missions,” said Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Machines Company.
LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier highlighted the mission’s alignment with broader international goals, emphasizing the importance of safety, security, and sustainability in LEO. The collaboration also underscores the role of Quad nations—Australia, India, the U.S., and Japan—in fostering a resilient and integrated Indo-Pacific space ecosystem.
Image credit: LeoLabs
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