Photo credit: ANI BENGALURU: When Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye placed its first commercial satellite, Drishti, in orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket Sunday, it marked more than just another launch for India’s private space sector. Drishti, being pegged India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite, and the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, also added a rare new capability to the country’s Earth observation fleet: a satellite that can “see” through clouds, darkness and bad weather while also capturing conventional optical imagery. GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh told TOI: “This will become only the 16th remote sensing satellite available to India, placing it among a small group of spacecraft. It also has capabilities considered useful for strategic and security applications, for which there are only a handful of satellites in orbit as on date.”Drishti is the first globally to carry a “SyncFused OptoSAR” payload, combining electro-optical imaging and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a single platform. Optical satellites provide conventional high-resolution images but are affected by cloud cover and darkness. Radar satellites, on the other hand, can operate day and night and penetrate clouds, smoke and rain, though their imagery is harder to interpret.By synchronising and combining both streams of data, GalaxEye says the satellite can generate more consistent and usable imagery for users on the ground.The spacecraft is expected to support applications ranging from border surveillance and defence monitoring to disaster response, agriculture, infrastructure planning and insurance assessment. During floods, cyclones or landslides, for instance, radar imaging can continue functioning even when cloud cover prevents optical satellites from capturing images.“This marks a pivotal shift in India’s approach to Earth observation. It serves as a definitive proof-of-concept for India’s private space sector reforms and signals a transition from small-scale testing to sovereign, all-weather surveillance capabilities critical for national security and disaster response,” Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhatt, director-general, Indian Space Association (ISpA), said.AI Processing & 1st ImagesAnother key feature onboard is artificial intelligence processing powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin computing platform. Instead of transmitting vast quantities of raw imagery back to Earth for analysis, parts of the processing will happen directly in orbit. The idea is to reduce the time taken to convert satellite imagery into actionable information.GalaxEye says the satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days. The spacecraft, roughly the size of a compact refrigerator, also carries a deployable antenna spanning about three-and-a-half metres.Following its successful deployment and commissioning, initial imagery is expected to be delivered to customers in the coming weeks. “The satellite has already generated significant interest from government and commercial stakeholders internationally, seeking access to high-quality, high-frequency Earth observation data,” GalaxEye said post launch.Following Drishti’s launch, the startup plans to build a larger constellation of 8-12 satellites over the next four years, with future versions targeting even sharper imagery.India’s space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) chairman Pawan Goenka said: “Sustained effort over the last five-six years on confidence-building, capacity-building, and the commercialisation of India’s private space technology ecosystem is now showing tangible results. Drishti is a fine example of this – the world’s first OptoSAR satellite from an Indian private player.”Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results on Times of India.About the AuthorChethan KumarChethan Kumar is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India. Aside from specialising in Space & Science, he has reported extensively on varied topics, with special focus on defence, policy and data stories. He has covered multiple elections, too. As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, Chethan feels, there are reels of tales emerging which need to be captured. To do this, he alternates between the mundane goings-on of the Common Man and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and soldiers. In a career spanning nearly 18 years, he has reported from multiple datelines — Houston, Florida, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Sriharikota (AP), NH-1 (J&K Highway), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Raichur, Bhatkal, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, to name a few — but is based out of Bengaluru, India’s science capital that also hosts the ISRO HQ.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC AppearanceDelhi Approves ₹48,000 Crore Metro Expansion Plan To Connect Outer Regions With City CoreVietnam President To Lam’s First State Visit To India: What It Means For New Delhi-Hanoi TiesPune Rape-Murder Case: CM Fadnavis Assures Fast-Track Trial, Targets Oppn Over ‘Cash-for-Transfer’123Photostories5 phases every marriage quietly moves through- And how to deal with them5 rare watches from Sachin Tendulkar’s collection you should knowYou’re walking, but not like this: How interval walking improves fitness naturallySubtle signs you might be vitamin D deficient, and what your body is trying to tell youRed vs green Apple: How to choose the right one for your health goalsRihanna to Katy Perry: 7 most bizarre Met Gala looks that stole the spotlightBhagavad Gita lessons to overcome life’s challenges and stay happySudden back pain? It might not be muscle strain; here’s how to spot kidney stones early and what to do5 countries where you can drive with your Indian driving licenceFrom six stunning balconies with spectacular views to a lobby with three private lifts, Siddharth Nigam offers a glimpse into his luxurious home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap

Photo credit: ANI BENGALURU: When Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye placed its first commercial satellite, Drishti, in orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket Sunday, it marked more than just another launch for India’s private space sector. Drishti, being pegged India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite, and the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, also added a rare new capability to the country’s Earth observation fleet: a satellite that can “see” through clouds, darkness and bad weather while also capturing conventional optical imagery. GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh told TOI: “This will become only the 16th remote sensing satellite available to India, placing it among a small group of spacecraft. It also has capabilities considered useful for strategic and security applications, for which there are only a handful of satellites in orbit as on date.”Drishti is the first globally to carry a “SyncFused OptoSAR” payload, combining electro-optical imaging and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a single platform. Optical satellites provide conventional high-resolution images but are affected by cloud cover and darkness. Radar satellites, on the other hand, can operate day and night and penetrate clouds, smoke and rain, though their imagery is harder to interpret.By synchronising and combining both streams of data, GalaxEye says the satellite can generate more consistent and usable imagery for users on the ground.The spacecraft is expected to support applications ranging from border surveillance and defence monitoring to disaster response, agriculture, infrastructure planning and insurance assessment. During floods, cyclones or landslides, for instance, radar imaging can continue functioning even when cloud cover prevents optical satellites from capturing images.“This marks a pivotal shift in India’s approach to Earth observation. It serves as a definitive proof-of-concept for India’s private space sector reforms and signals a transition from small-scale testing to sovereign, all-weather surveillance capabilities critical for national security and disaster response,” Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhatt, director-general, Indian Space Association (ISpA), said.AI Processing & 1st ImagesAnother key feature onboard is artificial intelligence processing powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin computing platform. Instead of transmitting vast quantities of raw imagery back to Earth for analysis, parts of the processing will happen directly in orbit. The idea is to reduce the time taken to convert satellite imagery into actionable information.GalaxEye says the satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days. The spacecraft, roughly the size of a compact refrigerator, also carries a deployable antenna spanning about three-and-a-half metres.Following its successful deployment and commissioning, initial imagery is expected to be delivered to customers in the coming weeks. “The satellite has already generated significant interest from government and commercial stakeholders internationally, seeking access to high-quality, high-frequency Earth observation data,” GalaxEye said post launch.Following Drishti’s launch, the startup plans to build a larger constellation of 8-12 satellites over the next four years, with future versions targeting even sharper imagery.India’s space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) chairman Pawan Goenka said: “Sustained effort over the last five-six years on confidence-building, capacity-building, and the commercialisation of India’s private space technology ecosystem is now showing tangible results. Drishti is a fine example of this – the world’s first OptoSAR satellite from an Indian private player.”Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu election results, West Bengal election results, Kerala election results, Assam election results and Puducherry election results on Times of India.About the AuthorChethan KumarChethan Kumar is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India. Aside from specialising in Space & Science, he has reported extensively on varied topics, with special focus on defence, policy and data stories. He has covered multiple elections, too. As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, Chethan feels, there are reels of tales emerging which need to be captured. To do this, he alternates between the mundane goings-on of the Common Man and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and soldiers. In a career spanning nearly 18 years, he has reported from multiple datelines — Houston, Florida, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Sriharikota (AP), NH-1 (J&K Highway), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Raichur, Bhatkal, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, to name a few —  but is based out of Bengaluru, India’s science capital that also hosts the ISRO HQ.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia-Linked LPG Tanker MT Sarv Shakti Heads To Visakhapatnam After Crossing HormuzPassenger Opens Emergency Exit Door On Air Arabia Flight While Taxiing At Chennai Airport, ArrestedAhead Of Counting, Gunmen Open Fire At BJP Leader’s House In Bengal’s Noapara‘I Am Also A Victim’: Vinesh Phogat Identifies As Complainant In Brij Bhushan Sexual Harassment CaseBJP MP Sandeep Pathak Claims ‘No Information’ On FIRs, Alleges Misuse Of State Machinery In PunjabIndian Startup Launches Mission Drishti, World’s First OptoSAR Satellite, Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9Diljit Dosanjh Confronts Khalistan Supporters at Calgary Concert, Explains KBC AppearanceDelhi Approves ₹48,000 Crore Metro Expansion Plan To Connect Outer Regions With City CoreVietnam President To Lam’s First State Visit To India: What It Means For New Delhi-Hanoi TiesPune Rape-Murder Case: CM Fadnavis Assures Fast-Track Trial, Targets Oppn Over ‘Cash-for-Transfer’123Photostories5 phases every marriage quietly moves through- And how to deal with them5 rare watches from Sachin Tendulkar’s collection you should knowYou’re walking, but not like this: How interval walking improves fitness naturallySubtle signs you might be vitamin D deficient, and what your body is trying to tell youRed vs green Apple: How to choose the right one for your health goalsRihanna to Katy Perry: 7 most bizarre Met Gala looks that stole the spotlightBhagavad Gita lessons to overcome life’s challenges and stay happySudden back pain? It might not be muscle strain; here’s how to spot kidney stones early and what to do5 countries where you can drive with your Indian driving licenceFrom six stunning balconies with spectacular views to a lobby with three private lifts, Siddharth Nigam offers a glimpse into his luxurious home123Hot PicksAssam key constituenciesKerala key constituenciesPuducherry election resultsTamil Nadu constituenciesAjay Pal SharmaBengal Poll RecordHimanta Biswa SarmaTop TrendingWest Bengal Assembly Election ResultsAssam Assembly Election ResultsTamil Nadu Assembly Election ResultsKerala Assembly Election ResultsPuducherry Assembly Election ResultsPetrol, Diesel, LPG priceCBSE Class 12th ResultNEET 2026: Exam-day guideBSE AP SSC Class 10th ResultIPL Orange Cap


GalaxEye adds to India’s remote sensing capability, launches world’s 1st OptoSAR Satellite

BENGALURU: When Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye placed its first commercial satellite, Drishti, in orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket Sunday, it marked more than just another launch for India’s private space sector. Drishti, being pegged India’s largest privately developed Earth observation satellite, and the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, also added a rare new capability to the country’s Earth observation fleet: a satellite that can “see” through clouds, darkness and bad weather while also capturing conventional optical imagery. GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh told TOI: “This will become only the 16th remote sensing satellite available to India, placing it among a small group of spacecraft. It also has capabilities considered useful for strategic and security applications, for which there are only a handful of satellites in orbit as on date.”Drishti is the first globally to carry a “SyncFused OptoSAR” payload, combining electro-optical imaging and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a single platform. Optical satellites provide conventional high-resolution images but are affected by cloud cover and darkness. Radar satellites, on the other hand, can operate day and night and penetrate clouds, smoke and rain, though their imagery is harder to interpret.By synchronising and combining both streams of data, GalaxEye says the satellite can generate more consistent and usable imagery for users on the ground.The spacecraft is expected to support applications ranging from border surveillance and defence monitoring to disaster response, agriculture, infrastructure planning and insurance assessment. During floods, cyclones or landslides, for instance, radar imaging can continue functioning even when cloud cover prevents optical satellites from capturing images.“This marks a pivotal shift in India’s approach to Earth observation. It serves as a definitive proof-of-concept for India’s private space sector reforms and signals a transition from small-scale testing to sovereign, all-weather surveillance capabilities critical for national security and disaster response,” Lt Gen (retd) AK Bhatt, director-general, Indian Space Association (ISpA), said.AI Processing & 1st ImagesAnother key feature onboard is artificial intelligence processing powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Orin computing platform. Instead of transmitting vast quantities of raw imagery back to Earth for analysis, parts of the processing will happen directly in orbit. The idea is to reduce the time taken to convert satellite imagery into actionable information.GalaxEye says the satellite can deliver imagery at a resolution of 1.5 metres and revisit locations globally every seven to ten days. The spacecraft, roughly the size of a compact refrigerator, also carries a deployable antenna spanning about three-and-a-half metres.Following its successful deployment and commissioning, initial imagery is expected to be delivered to customers in the coming weeks. “The satellite has already generated significant interest from government and commercial stakeholders internationally, seeking access to high-quality, high-frequency Earth observation data,” GalaxEye said post launch.Following Drishti’s launch, the startup plans to build a larger constellation of 8-12 satellites over the next four years, with future versions targeting even sharper imagery.India’s space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Center (IN-SPACe) chairman Pawan Goenka said: “Sustained effort over the last five-six years on confidence-building, capacity-building, and the commercialisation of India’s private space technology ecosystem is now showing tangible results. Drishti is a fine example of this – the world’s first OptoSAR satellite from an Indian private player.



Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *