At 190 kg, it is India’s largest privately built satellite GalaxEye announces Successful Launch
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, 3 May 2026: GalaxEye, a Space-Tech startup; today announced the successful launch of Mission Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of Earth observation technologies and reinforcing India’s growing capabilities in the global space sector.
Weighing 190 kilograms, Mission Drishti is India’s largest privately developed Earth
observation satellite. It is the first satellite globally to integrate Electro-Optical (EO) and
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors into a single operational platform, enabling all-
weather, day-and-night imaging capabilities. This integrated approach addresses long-
standing limitations of conventional systems and enables more reliable and consistent data
acquisition across diverse environmental conditions.
Mission Drishti loaded onto Falcon 9
Mission Drishti is the result of over five years of sustained, indigenous research and
development, reflecting a broader shift in India’s space ecosystem toward innovation-led, IP-
driven technological advancement. Prior to launch, Mission Drishti underwent extensive
environmental testing and performance validation to ensure operational readiness. This was
also enabled by strong support from IN-SPACe, providing access to testing infrastructure
and relevant authorizations.
"Mission Drishti marks our first mission and the culmination of over five years of sustained
R&D to develop this breakthrough technology. 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, said Suyash Singh, Founder & CEO, GalaxEye."
Following its successful deployment and commissioning, initial imagery is expected to be
delivered to customers in the coming weeks. The satellite has already generated significant
interest from government and commercial stakeholders internationally, seeking access to
high-quality, high-frequency Earth observation data.
GalaxEye recently announced a landmark partnership with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL),
the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation, for the global distribution of its
satellite imagery. This collaboration is expected to enhance access to advanced Earth
observation data for a wide range of applications. The successful launch of this mission also
reflects the rapid progress of India’s private space sector over recent years, highlighting a
transition toward high-value, innovation-driven contributions to the global space economy.
"The sustained effort over the last five to six years on confidence-building, capacity-building,
and the commercialisation of India’s private space technology ecosystem is now showing
tangible results. Mission Drishti by GalaxEye is a fine example of this - the world’s first
OptoSAR satellite from an Indian private player. As more Indian space companies
demonstrate their capabilities through real missions and engagement with global customers,
confidence in India’s space ecosystem will continue to strengthen, creating greater demand
both in India and overseas. I compliment the GalaxEye team on this important milestone and
wish them continued success, said Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Indian National Space
Promotion and Authorization Center."
Mission Drishti is a dual-use Earth observation Satellite, supporting use cases across
defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring, and infrastructure planning.
The satellite is expected to complement India’s broader initiatives, including the active 29
Earth Observation satellites outlined in ISRO’s recent annual report.
In the context of evolving global requirements for reliable geospatial intelligence, the mission
underscores India’s emergence as a credible provider of advanced ISR (Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities, both domestically and for international
partners.
GalaxEye plans to continue expanding its satellite constellation over the next five years,
contributing to the development of a robust and sovereign Earth observation infrastructure
for India, while also addressing the growing global demand for reliable satellite data.
