Australia-based Space Machines Company has selected LeoLabs to support its on-orbit servicing and space debris mitigation demonstration, called Space MAITRI, which is scheduled to launch in early 2026. LeoLabs will provide pre-mission and launch planning, launch and early operations support, and safety of flight and tracking solutions throughout the mission lifecycle.
Space MAITRI is a joint Australian-Indian mission, funded by the Australian Space Agency and part of the ISI India Projects program, to show progress toward space debris management and a sustainable space environment.
For this mission, New Space India Limited will launch Australia’s Space Machines Company-built Optimus orbital servicing vehicle into low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard a dedicated Indian Space Agency Small Satellite Launch Vehicle. After separation, Optimus will perform a series of propulsive on-orbit maneuvers to inspect a space object in close proximity. It will then spend several months on orbit examining space debris to demonstrate affordable and accessible space sustainability technologies.
“Working with LeoLabs ahead of the Space MAITRI mission strengthens our capabilities as well as the safety and sustainability of our future missions,” said Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Machines Company. “Through the integration of LeoLabs’ comprehensive safety of flight solutions into our mission control systems, we’ll enhance our risk mitigation, intelligent maneuver planning, and precise debris tracking capabilities. Access to these services represents another significant milestone in our technological advancement and further demonstrates our efforts in scaling up Australia’s space industry.”
LeoLabs is proud to support the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan—the group of partner countries known as the Quad—and was recently recognized by the Quad Investors Network for contributing to a more integrated and resilient Indo-Pacific region.
“Our work with Space Machines Company in support of the Space MAITRI mission is a primary example of LeoLabs’ commitment to supporting the space initiatives of Quad nations,” said LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier. “Space safety, security, and sustainability are intrinsically linked, and we look forward to supporting this important space sustainability mission to ensure safety and security in LEO.”
