Alongside launching two new OptoSAR satellites, GalaxEye will deepen vertical integration by bringing a larger share of satellite manufacturing, supply chain and development processes in-house to improve quality, reliability and execution of future missions.
| Photo Credit:
bluebay2014
Bengaluru-based space-tech start-up GalaxEye is pressing ahead with its satellite roadmap, announcing plans to launch two next-generation OptoSAR satellites over the next 24 months and significantly expand its in-house manufacturing capabilities, even as its maiden mission, Mission Drishti, lost communication following an anomaly in orbit.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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and several government agencies and industry stakeholders.Before the anomaly, the satellite successfully completed a substantial portion of its Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), establishing communication with ground stations and validating several critical spacecraft systems. GalaxEye said the mission demonstrated key capabilities including spacecraft deployment, attitude control, onboard computing and communications, as well as its fully in-house mission operations from its Bengaluru Mission Control Centre.The company said the mission also validated the engineering processes, operational infrastructure and technologies required to design, build, launch and operate advanced Earth observation satellites, while strengthening customer confidence in its OptoSAR technology.However, during the final stage of LEOP, the spacecraft encountered an anomaly following an extreme geomagnetic solar storm. Initial analysis indicates that radiation from the space weather event likely affected a critical onboard system, causing communication with the satellite to become intermittent before being lost. Recovery efforts are continuing, although the company said the chances of re-establishing contact remain low.“Mission Drishti marks the culmination of years of innovation, engineering, and execution by our team. While the satellite experienced an anomaly following an extreme space weather event, the mission has provided invaluable engineering insights that will directly strengthen our future missions. Learning from the mission, we are accelerating our transition toward bringing a significant portion of our supply chain, manufacturing, and satellite development processes in-house, giving us visibility and control over the entire value chain,” said Suyash Singh, Founder and CEO of GalaxEye.The company said the learnings from Mission Drishti are already being incorporated into its next-generation spacecraft architecture. Alongside launching two new OptoSAR satellites, GalaxEye will deepen vertical integration by bringing a larger share of satellite manufacturing, supply chain and development processes in-house to improve quality, reliability and execution of future missions.Published on July 7, 2026
