Spacetech startup GalaxEye on Sunday launched its first earth observation (EO)satellite, Mission Drishti, aboard a Falcon 9 operated by SpaceX from Vandenberg, California.
The 190-kg satellite which has been in the works for about five years will soon start beaming down data from space to its clients.
The IIT-Madras incubated startup through its propriety tech combines electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors on a single platform. It will enable all-weather, day and night imaging.
“Mission Drishti marks our first mission and the culmination of over five years of sustained R&D,” said Suyash Singh, founder and chief executive of GalaxEye. “We are now focused on commissioning the satellite and starting data delivery. We are already seeing strong global interest in the datasets enabled by our OptoSAR payload.”
The Bengaluru-based startup said its system can generate up to three times more information than conventional EO satellites by fusing multiple imaging modes with AI.
The satellite is designed as a dual-use platform, with applications spanning defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring and infrastructure planning. Initial imagery is expected to be available in the coming weeks, GalaxEye said.
Earlier in an interview with ET, Singh said 70% of its revenue is expected from defence and 30% from commerical use cases.
The company plans to deploy a constellation of about 10 satellites over the next few years to offer persistent EO services. It has raised around $18.8 million so far from investors including Infosys, Mela Ventures, Nikhil Kamath’s Rainmatter and Speciale Invest.
“The sustained effort on commercialising India’s private space ecosystem is now showing results,” said Pawan Goenka, chairman In-SPACe. “Mission Drishti is a strong example of an Indian private player delivering globally relevant innovation. As more such missions succeed, confidence in India’s space ecosystem will deepen.”
GalaxEye has also partnered with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) to distribute its satellite imagery globally, opening up access to government and enterprise customers.
The launch comes amid rising momentum in India’s private space sector in 2026, with startups such as Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace also gearing up for missions this year.
Industry executives said the shift from experimental payloads to operational satellites signals a maturing ecosystem, with Indian startups increasingly targeting global markets for high-resolution, high-frequency geospatial data.
“What stands out is not just the technology, but its broader impact on how downstream applications will increasingly define value in the space economy, particularly in EO where timely, decision-grade insights are critical,” Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA).
The 190-kg satellite which has been in the works for about five years will soon start beaming down data from space to its clients.
The IIT-Madras incubated startup through its propriety tech combines electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors on a single platform. It will enable all-weather, day and night imaging.
“Mission Drishti marks our first mission and the culmination of over five years of sustained R&D,” said Suyash Singh, founder and chief executive of GalaxEye. “We are now focused on commissioning the satellite and starting data delivery. We are already seeing strong global interest in the datasets enabled by our OptoSAR payload.”
The Bengaluru-based startup said its system can generate up to three times more information than conventional EO satellites by fusing multiple imaging modes with AI.
The satellite is designed as a dual-use platform, with applications spanning defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring and infrastructure planning. Initial imagery is expected to be available in the coming weeks, GalaxEye said.
Earlier in an interview with ET, Singh said 70% of its revenue is expected from defence and 30% from commerical use cases.
The company plans to deploy a constellation of about 10 satellites over the next few years to offer persistent EO services. It has raised around $18.8 million so far from investors including Infosys, Mela Ventures, Nikhil Kamath’s Rainmatter and Speciale Invest.
“The sustained effort on commercialising India’s private space ecosystem is now showing results,” said Pawan Goenka, chairman In-SPACe. “Mission Drishti is a strong example of an Indian private player delivering globally relevant innovation. As more such missions succeed, confidence in India’s space ecosystem will deepen.”
GalaxEye has also partnered with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) to distribute its satellite imagery globally, opening up access to government and enterprise customers.
The launch comes amid rising momentum in India’s private space sector in 2026, with startups such as Agnikul Cosmos and Skyroot Aerospace also gearing up for missions this year.
Industry executives said the shift from experimental payloads to operational satellites signals a maturing ecosystem, with Indian startups increasingly targeting global markets for high-resolution, high-frequency geospatial data.
“What stands out is not just the technology, but its broader impact on how downstream applications will increasingly define value in the space economy, particularly in EO where timely, decision-grade insights are critical,” Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA).
