Bengaluru- based space-tech startup GalaxEye is set to launch its first satellite, Mission Drishti, within the next three months, marking a significant step in India’s emerging private space ecosystem.
The mission will introduce what it claims is the world’s first “OptoSAR” platform. The satellite combines optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors to deliver consistent, high-resolution imagery, even through clouds and in darkness, addressing a key gap in earth observation.
The multi-sensor Earth observation satellite with a launch weight of approximately 180-190 kg with 1–1.5 metre resolution, it marks a new imaging category.
The company aims to scale to a 10–20 satellite constellation by 2029, with growth driven by global data sales through channel partners across defence, climate, and commercial use cases.
Core innovation
The core innovation lies in synchronising optical and SAR sensors on a single platform, an engineering challenge that has traditionally limited their combined use explained Suyash Singh, CEO, Co- Founder, GalaxEye. While optical imaging provides intuitive, high-resolution visuals, it is constrained by cloud cover and lighting conditions. SAR, on the other hand, can capture data through clouds and in darkness but is harder to interpret, Singh added.
To achieve this, the company has built a system that captures optical and SAR data simultaneously from the same angle, enabling real-time fusion instead of post-processing. This ensures that datasets are inherently aligned, reducing complexity for end users.
GalaxEye plans to cater to both government and commercial customers, including Indian defence and civil agencies, as well as global markets, through a network of channel partners and resellers, some of whom have already signed up for its data.
The company will monetise its data through a channel-partner-led model, onboarding resellers globally to distribute its datasets to governments and commercial users.
Data reseller agreement
GalaxEye has partnered with ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL under a data reseller agreement, enabling it to distribute its satellite data to government users.
Looking ahead, GalaxEye aims to scale from a single satellite to a constellation of 10–20 satellites by 2029. This would significantly improve revisit frequency, from capturing images once every 7–10 days to potentially daily coverage for downstream applications. Beyond hardware, the startup is also investing in AI-led analytics, including models that can convert SAR imagery into optical-like outputs, making the data more accessible to a wider set of users.
The long-term ambition, the company said, is to evolve into a full-stack space-tech player, spanning satellite development, operations, and data analytics, with OptoSAR at the core of its strategy.
Published on April 23, 2026