Engineers in cleanroom suits meticulously assemble the GalaxEye OptoSAR satellite.
Spacetech startup GalaxEye has successfully launched its first OptoSAR satellite, marking a key milestone for its ‘Mission Drishti’ project. This launch is significant as the company claims it is the world’s first satellite to integrate electro-optical (EO) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors onto a single platform, enabling all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capabilities.
The 190 kg satellite, described as India’s largest privately developed earth observation satellite, was deployed aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California. GalaxEye reported the satellite successfully separated from the rocket over an hour after launch.
The integrated OptoSAR technology aims to overcome the limitations of conventional systems that rely on either optical or radar data alone, providing more accurate and consistent data acquisition across diverse environmental conditions. GalaxEye cofounder and CEO Suyash Singh stated, “With the satellite now successfully in orbit, our immediate focus is on completing its commissioning. As we move through this phase, we are already witnessing strong global interest in the differentiated datasets enabled by our OptoSAR payload.”
The company anticipates initial imagery from the satellite will be available to customers within weeks, with applications spanning defense, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring, and infrastructure planning. Defense and security agencies are expected to be major early revenue contributors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the launch, calling it a major achievement for India’s space journey and a testament to the innovation and nation-building drive of the country’s youth. The satellite’s development, spanning nearly five years, received support from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) for testing infrastructure and launch authorizations.
GalaxEye, founded in 2021 by IIT Madras alumni, designs and manufactures its multi-sensor earth observation satellites in-house. The ‘Mission Drishti’ project envisions a constellation of at least 10 satellites to be launched over the next two-and-a-half years. The startup has also partnered with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, for global distribution of its satellite imagery.
This development occurs within the context of India’s burgeoning spacetech sector, which has seen significant growth and investment following its opening to private players. GalaxEye has previously raised $20 million in funding and has a history of developing advanced SAR technologies, including its DroneSAR and HAPS SAR systems, and has had payloads validated on ISRO missions.
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