When contemplating India’s burgeoning private space sector, certain names emerge prominently. Yet, a nascent contender is garnering global attention for its remarkable achievements.
Based in Bengaluru, the startup GalaxEye has accomplished a feat that eludes even some of the most established international entities: the creation of the world’s inaugural multi-sensor Earth Observation satellite.
Prior to its foray into the cosmos, Mission Drishti underwent rigorous evaluations at the U R Rao Satellite Center (URSC) of ISRO. The satellite’s structural integrity and thermal resilience were scrutinized under diverse conditions, including temperature variations, vibrational forces, and vacuum scenarios.
Mission Drishti: India’s Next Frontier in Space Technology
On Monday, GalaxEye disclosed plans to launch Mission Drishti, its premier Earth Observation satellite, slated for 2026. Guided by an accomplished leadership team—comprising Satya Chakravarthy, Suyash Singh, Denil Chawda, Kishan Thakkar, Pranit Mehta, and Rakshit Bhatt—the mission is poised to initiate in the first quarter of next year.
This launch heralds the company’s ambitious blueprint to establish an intricate network of satellites within a four-year timeframe.
“With Mission Drishti, we are heralding a paradigm shift in actionable data derived from space exploration. For the first instance globally, we are employing a satellite that amalgamates multiple sensing technologies upon a singular platform, facilitating unprecedented observations of our planet,” articulated Suyash Singh, co-founder and CEO of GalaxEye, as reported by Business Review.
The satellite is engineered to integrate an array of sensing technologies onto one platform. The company asserts that upon successful launch, this satellite—boasting a resolution of 1.5 meters—will empower advanced geospatial research across various domains, including government, defense, and industry sectors.
India’s Largest Privately Developed Satellite
“This mission firmly positions India on the global space map, creating a system that transforms space technology into reliable intelligence for businesses, governments, and communities,” stated the CEO.
Mission Drishti is not only the most substantial privately developed satellite in India but also holds the title of the nation’s highest-resolution satellite to date, with a weight approximating 160 kilograms. The company envisions deploying between eight to ten satellites within the upcoming four years.
“As geopolitical tensions escalate and the demand for precise real-time intelligence intensifies, next-generation imaging integrated with AI becomes indispensable,” Singh expounded. “We are witnessing burgeoning interest from the defense, agriculture, and financial sectors.”
This modest Indian startup is establishing a system that has the potential to inform decisions across industries globally, exemplifying the rapid maturation of India’s private space ecosystem.
Source link: Financialexpress.com.
