Ahmedabad-based startup Orbitt Space has raised US$1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from IIMA Ventures.

The funding will support the development of an air-breathing electric propulsion system for Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (ULEO) satellites.

Founded in early 2025 by former ISRO scientists Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, Orbitt Space focuses on satellite operations in ULEO, which is below 250 km in altitude.

This orbit remains largely untapped due to challenges such as high atmospheric drag and fuel limitations.

The funds will accelerate product development, expand the engineering team, and test prototypes.

🔗 Source: Orbitt Space

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Air-breathing propulsion marks slow transition from research to commercial application

The technology behind Orbitt Space’s innovation has been in development for years before reaching commercial viability.

ESA successfully tested an air-breathing electric thruster as early as 2018, demonstrating that atmospheric molecules could be used as propellant at very low orbits 1.

NASA has also been investigating this technology since at least 2016 for potential planetary exploration, recognizing its value in eliminating the need to carry propellant from Earth 2.

This seven-year gap between ESA’s successful test and Orbitt’s commercial development highlights the typical timeframe for space technologies to mature from proof-of-concept to investment-ready ventures.

The persistence of this development timeline shows that even promising space technologies require sustained R&D investment before they can attract commercial funding and reach market readiness.

2️⃣ Ultra-low Earth orbit presents strategic advantages amid increasing space congestion

Orbitt’s focus on ULEO addresses a critical industry challenge: the rapidly growing congestion in traditional orbital bands.

Current low Earth orbit space is increasingly hazardous with over 40,000 tracked objects and an estimated 1.2 million smaller debris fragments that threaten operational satellites and future launches.