Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the launch of GalaxEye’s Mission
Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, as a landmark in India’s private
space sector.
The satellite, launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 from California, represents
India’s largest privately-built spacecraft and a breakthrough in all-weather
Earth observation technology.
Mission Drishti was successfully placed into orbit on Sunday, marking a
milestone for Bengaluru-based start-up GalaxEye. The satellite integrates
electro-optical sensors with synthetic aperture radar into a single platform,
enabling high-resolution imaging both in daylight and through clouds or
darkness.
Mission Drishti by GalaxEye marks a major achievement in our space journey. The successful launch of the world’s first OptoSAR satellite and the largest privately-built satellite in India is a testament to our youth’s passion for innovation and nation-building.
Heartiest…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2026
This dual capability addresses long-standing limitations of conventional Earth
observation systems and ensures continuous, reliable data acquisition.
Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, described the launch as a major
achievement in India’s space journey and a testament to the youth’s passion
for innovation and nation-building. He extended his congratulations and best
wishes to the founders and the entire GalaxEye team, emphasising that the
mission reflects the growing strength of India’s space ecosystem.
The satellite, weighing approximately 190 kilograms, is India’s largest
privately-built Earth observation satellite. It was one of 45 payloads
launched on the CAS500-2 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in
California.
The mission has been widely recognised as a breakthrough for India’s private
space sector, with GalaxEye emerging as a key player in the country’s new
space economy.
GalaxEye’s founder and CEO, Suyash Singh, stated that the immediate priority
is commissioning the satellite, with initial imagery expected in the coming
weeks. He noted strong global interest in the differentiated datasets enabled
by the OptoSAR payload, which is expected to generate up to three times more
information than conventional optical satellites.
The company has already secured nearly $19 million in funding from investors
including Infosys, Mela Ventures, Rainmatter, and Speciale Invest, and has
partnered with NewSpace India Limited to distribute imagery worldwide.
Mission Drishti is designed as a dual-use platform, supporting applications
across defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring, and
infrastructure planning.
Its deployment complements India’s broader Earth observation initiatives,
including the 29 active satellites outlined in ISRO’s latest annual report.
ISRO itself congratulated GalaxEye, calling the mission a significant
milestone in advancing all-weather earth observation capabilities.
The satellite represents the culmination of over five years of sustained
research and development, with extensive environmental testing and validation.
Industry leaders have praised the achievement, with Lt Gen AK Bhatt (Retd),
Director General of the Indian Space Association, noting that GalaxEye has
achieved what only a few global players have—seamlessly combining optical and
radar capabilities on a single platform. Union Minister Jitendra Singh also
highlighted the mission as a significant milestone in India’s space journey.
GalaxEye plans to expand Mission Drishti into a constellation of ten
satellites by 2030, creating sovereign Earth observation infrastructure for
India.
This constellation will provide persistent coverage and enhance India’s
strategic autonomy in space-based surveillance and data acquisition. The
company expects around 70% of its revenue from defence applications and 30%
from commercial use cases, underscoring the dual-use nature of the technology.
Mission Drishti’s success underscores India’s transition towards a
diversified, innovation-driven space sector, where private enterprises
complement ISRO’s national programmes.
By delivering globally relevant innovation, GalaxEye has positioned itself as
a pioneer in advanced satellite imaging, with Mission Drishti serving as both
a technological and strategic milestone.
Agencies
