Orbitt Space: Pioneering Fuel-Free Propulsion
Deal News | May 29, 2025 | Pi Ventures LLP
Pi Ventures LLP has made a groundbreaking investment in Orbitt Space, a company pioneering the Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system for Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (ULEO) satellites. This propulsion technology promises to overcome the challenges of operating within ULEO, characterized by high atmospheric drag, by utilizing residual atmospheric gases to sustain orbital presence without the need for onboard fuel. Founded by ISRO veterans Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, Orbitt Space is advancing its satellite architecture to enable extended operational periods in ULEO, offering sharper imagery, and faster communications. The investment will support the development and testing of Orbitt's modular satellite bus, targeting a space demonstration by 2026 and operational capability by 2028.
Sectors
- Aerospace and Defense
- Venture Capital
Geography
- India – The involved parties, Pi Ventures and Orbitt Space, are based in India, emphasizing the region's growing role in global space technology development.
Industry
- Aerospace and Defense – This industry involves companies like Orbitt Space that develop technologies for space exploration, satellite communication, and defense applications.
- Venture Capital – Pi Ventures LLP belongs to the Venture Capital industry, which provides capital funding to innovative startups like Orbitt Space focused on groundbreaking technologies.
Financials
- Not disclosed – The exact financial terms of the investment by Pi Ventures in Orbitt Space have not been disclosed.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pi Ventures LLP | Investor | Company | A venture capital firm investing in deeptech startups revolutionizing their respective fields, including in this case, space technology. |
| Orbitt Space | Target Company | Company | A startup focused on developing a novel air-breathing electric propulsion system for satellites in Ultra-Low Earth Orbit. |
| Christopher Parmar | Founder | Person | Co-founder of Orbitt Space, with extensive experience in satellite systems from his tenure at ISRO. |
| Anupam Kumar | Founder | Person | Co-founder of Orbitt Space, bringing deep expertise in propulsion and mission design from ISRO. |