Bengaluru, May 4 (APAC Media): In a significant step for India’s growing private space industry, Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye successfully launched its ‘Mission Drishti’ satellite into orbit on Sunday.
The satellite was deployed aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from a launch site in California at 12:29 PM IST.
Founded by alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, GalaxEye has built the satellite entirely in India. The company described Mission Drishti as the world’s first “OptoSAR” satellite, combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Multispectral Imaging (MSI) technologies.
Weighing about 190 kg, it is the largest satellite developed by India’s private sector so far. Its hybrid imaging capability allows it to capture high-resolution images even through clouds and in complete darkness—overcoming a major limitation of traditional satellites.
Orbiting at an altitude of around 500 km, Mission Drishti can deliver images with a resolution of 1.2 to 1.8 metres. This makes it highly effective for applications such as border surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, and climate monitoring.
A key feature of the satellite is its onboard AI processor, which enables real-time image analysis directly in space. This reduces response time during emergencies and improves decision-making on the ground.
PM Narendra Modi took to X, congratulating the team of GalaxEye for the milestone. In his post, he wrote, “Mission Drishti by GalaxEye marks a major achievement in our space journey. The successful launch of the world’s first OptoSAR satellite and the largest privately built satellite in India is a testament to our youth’s passion for innovation and nation-building. Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the founders and the entire team of GalaxEye.”
GalaxEye plans to launch a constellation of 8–12 such satellites by 2029, aiming to revisit any location on Earth every four days or less. The initiative is expected to reduce India’s dependence on foreign satellite imagery and strengthen its position in global space technology.
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