Launch · Government, Defense & Space

GalaxEye to build 2 new OptoSAR satellites after maiden mission setback

What they do

GalaxEye builds Earth observation satellites that combine optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging

The company announced plans to launch two next-generation OptoSAR satellites in the next 24 months despite a setback with its first mission

Its first satellite, Mission Drishti, lost communication after encountering an anomaly caused by a geomagnetic solar storm

GalaxEye, a Bengaluru-based space-tech start-up, is continuing with its satellite roadmap despite a setback with its first mission.
The company plans to launch two next-generation OptoSAR satellites over the next 24 months.
GalaxEye aims to expand its in-house manufacturing capabilities to improve quality and reliability of future missions.
Its first satellite, Mission Drishti, was launched on May 3 aboard a SpaceX mission.
Mission Drishti was the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, combining optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging capabilities on a single platform.
The mission marked a milestone for India’s private space sector and received recognition from several high-profile figures.
Before the anomaly, the satellite successfully completed a substantial portion of its Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP).
The satellite encountered an anomaly during the final stage of LEOP due to an extreme geomagnetic solar storm.
Initial analysis suggests that radiation from the space weather event affected a critical onboard system, causing communication to be lost.
Recovery efforts are ongoing, but the chances of re-establishing contact with the satellite remain low.

Mission Drishti demonstrated key capabilities including spacecraft deployment, attitude control, onboard computing, and communications.
The mission validated the engineering processes and technologies required to design, build, launch, and operate advanced Earth observation satellites.
GalaxEye is using the insights from Mission Drishti to strengthen its future missions and accelerate in-house manufacturing.

GalaxEye builds Earth observation satellites that combine optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging capabilities on a single platform.
The company’s first satellite, Mission Drishti, is the world’s first commercial multi-sensor satellite combining SAR and multispectral imaging (MSI).
Mission Drishti provides high-resolution imagery with a fused resolution of 1.8 meters, making it the highest-resolution imagery from any private player in India.
The satellite is designed to provide all-weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities, eliminating the need for data fusion from separate sources.

GalaxEye plans to launch two new OptoSAR satellites in the next 24 months.
The company will deepen vertical integration by bringing a larger share of satellite manufacturing and supply chain processes in-house.

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