GalaxEye has launched its first commercial satellite ‘Drishti’

Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye launched its first commercial satellite ‘Drishti’ into orbit on 3 May 2026 using SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket.

Described as the “world’s first OptoSAR satellite,” the company stated that this launch marks a milestone in the advancement of Earth observation technology and strengthens India’s growing capabilities in the global space sector.

The company said, “Weighing 190 kg, Mission Drishti is India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite.

It is the world’s first satellite to integrate Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors on a single operational platform, enabling all-weather, day-and-night imaging.”

Drishti, which can “see” through clouds, darkness, and adverse weather while also capturing conventional optical images, carries a payload called “SyncFused OptoSAR,” combining Electro-Optical imaging and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on a single platform.

Optical satellites provide traditional high-resolution images but are affected by clouds and darkness. On the other hand, radar satellites can operate day and night and see through clouds, smoke, and rain, although their images are more difficult to interpret.

Mission Drishti

GalaxEye states that by merging and synchronizing these two data streams, the satellite can generate more consistent and actionable imagery for users on the ground.

This spacecraft is expected to support applications ranging from border surveillance and defense monitoring to disaster relief, agriculture, infrastructure planning, and insurance assessment.

For example, during floods, cyclones, or landslides, radar imaging can continue to function even when cloud cover prevents optical satellites from capturing images.

Another key feature is the onboard artificial intelligence processing powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin computing platform.

GalaxEye states that the satellite can provide imagery at a resolution of 1.5 meters and revisit any location worldwide every seven to ten days. This spacecraft, roughly the size of a small refrigerator, also carries a deployable antenna approximately three and a half meters long.

History of GalaxEye

It is a space-tech startup based in Bengaluru, founded in 2021 by IIT Madras alumni Suyash Singh, Denil Chavda, Kishan Thakkar, Pranit Mehta, and Rakshit Bhatt. Its origin traces back to the ‘Avishkar Hyperloop’ team.

GalaxEye collaborates with iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), ISRO, and IN-SPACe. The company aims to build a constellation of 8–12 satellites over the next four years.

It specializes in “OptoSAR” technology, which combines Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and multispectral imaging for all-weather, 24/7 Earth observation.

In 2022, it completed the initial proof of concept (PoC) of the ‘Drishti’ sensor, secured seed funding, and generated its first SAR image.

In 2024, it conducted trials of the ‘Drishti’ sensor with the Indian Army’s Northern Command, demonstrated the first High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) SAR sensor, and completed a $10 million Series-A funding round.