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Launch · Government, Defense & Space

GalaxEye launches world's first OptoSAR satellite, Mission Drishti

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GalaxEye logo
Date
Company
GalaxEye
What it does
Earth observation satellite technology developer
Kind
Launch
Stage
Series A
Based in
Bengaluru
Founded
2021
Sector
Government, Defense & Space

What they do

GalaxEye creates advanced satellites merging radar and optical sensors to deliver clear, weather-resistant Earth observation data for commercial and defense…

What happened

The startup successfully deployed its 190kg Mission Drishti satellite via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking a significant milestone for India's private…

Why it matters

This mission validates the company's unique OptoSAR technology, which fuses multi-sensor data in orbit to provide real-time, actionable intelligence for…

The details

  • GalaxEye successfully sent its Mission Drishti satellite into orbit on May 3, 2026, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
  • The 190kg spacecraft is the first globally to feature an OptoSAR payload, which combines electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar sensors.
  • This hybrid design enables high-resolution imaging that remains sharp regardless of darkness, cloud cover, or challenging weather conditions.
  • The satellite includes an onboard Nvidia Jetson Orin processor to perform data analysis in space, which minimizes the need to transmit large raw files.
  • GalaxEye intends to deploy a constellation of 10 satellites over the next two-and-a-half years to increase revisit frequency for its customers.
  • The team is currently finalizing the satellite's commissioning phase and expects to begin providing imagery to clients within a few weeks.

The bigger picture

  • Traditional satellites usually force a choice between radar reliability and optical clarity, often requiring complex software to merge disparate data sources.
  • Mission Drishti solves this by capturing both data types simultaneously at the hardware level, resulting in a more consistent and ready-to-use product.
  • The mission signals a transition in India's space industry from experimental prototypes toward functional commercial infrastructure.
  • The technology is designed to serve high-demand sectors such as maritime monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, and defense.

About the business

  • GalaxEye delivers high-resolution geospatial intelligence through its proprietary SyncFusion technology platform.
  • The company utilizes a SaaS-style delivery model where users can request imagery for specific areas via a digital dashboard.
  • Its primary customer base includes security and defense agencies, with additional use cases in climate monitoring and infrastructure planning.
  • The startup manages the design and manufacturing of its satellite hardware and software stack internally at its Bengaluru facility.
  • It previously validated its core technology through drone-based SAR testing and a flight on an ISRO POEM mission.

What happens next

  • Commissioning the Mission Drishti satellite in orbit.
  • Launching a constellation of 10 second-generation satellites over the next 30 months.
  • Expanding manufacturing capacity at the Bengaluru facility.

The deal

Type
funding

Investors

  • Infosys (participated) — Global IT services and consulting company.
  • Speciale Invest (participated) — Early-stage venture capital firm focusing on deep tech.
  • Rainmatter (participated) — Investment arm of Zerodha focusing on fintech and impact.

Founders

  • Suyash Singh, CEO & Co-Founder
  • Denil Chawda, CTO & Co-Founder
  • Kishan Thakkar, VP - Engineering & Co-Founder
  • Pranit Mehta, VP - Sales Ops & Co-Founder
  • Rakshit Bhatt, VP - Product & Co-Founder

About GalaxEye

Product
OptoSAR satellites combining optical and synthetic aperture radar for all-weather day-and-night Earth observation capabilities
Customers
Government agencies, defense establishments, agriculture, insurance and disaster response sectors globally
How it makes money
B2G and B2B model providing satellite Earth observation data and services
What sets it apart
Proprietary OptoSAR technology enabling weather-agnostic imaging with 66% indigenization and reduced global supply chain dependence
Operations
Vertically integrated satellite design and manufacturing through acquisition of StarOps with in-house engineering capabilities

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