WARSAW — Polish chemical propulsion startup Liftero has signed a deal with India’s commercial in-orbit servicing specialist OrbitAID where Liftero will supply green chemical propulsion for OrbitAID’s in-orbit servicing spacecraft.
Under the contract, Liftero will supply two multi-thruster BOOSTER configurations for an upcoming OrbitAID mission expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The mission will represent the first time a nitrous oxide (N2O)-based propulsion system will provide six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) maneuvering to an in-orbit servicing application, according to a Liftero press statement sent to SpaceNews. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
“We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with OrbitAID on this highly ambitious mission,” Tomasz Palacz, the CEO and co-founder of Liftero, said in the statement. “It is a great challenge, with many ‘firsts’ — not only for Liftero and OrbitAID, but for the industry as a whole. The deployment of our booster propulsion in an in-orbit servicing mission demonstrates that green chemical propulsion is ready for broader market adoption.”
Liftero will provide BOOSTERs to power and provide 6-DOF maneuverability to two systems — the chaser and target spacecraft — which will allow for “controlled proximity operations in orbit.”
OrbitAID CEO Sakthikumar R said in the announcement that the company selected the BOOSTER because of the propulsion system’s versatility and capability to meet the performance demands of OrbitAID’s in-orbit servicing spacecraft.
“Our mission required a custom propulsion configuration, and Liftero demonstrated that their framework enables rapid, practical, and cost-effective adaptation even under tight timelines. We’re looking forward to our upcoming launch and future missions together,” he said.
Liftero described itself as the country’s leading developer of space-proven green chemical propulsion systems. As part of its development plans, Liftero is readying for a debut on the NewConnect market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
OrbitAID said that, as the country’s first private on-orbit servicing and refueling venture, it aims to provide refueling and servicing in orbit to extend satellite lifetimes. In the long-term, OrbitAID intends to create in-orbit fuel stations that could extend satellites’ viability and reduce space debris for sustainable space operations.
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