Months after launching its first OptoSAR satellite under Mission Drishti, Indian spacetech startup GalaxEye reported a loss of communication linked to a geomagnetic solar storm. Despite this setback, the company is preparing to launch two additional satellites within the next 24 months to bolster its Earth observation portfolio.
- Mission Drishti satellite lost due to geomagnetic solar storm impact.
- Startup plans two more OptoSAR satellite launches in next two years.
- GalaxEye has raised $27 million to develop multisensor Earth observation tech.
What happened
GalaxEye launched its first OptoSAR satellite as part of the Mission Drishti initiative, combining optical and synthetic aperture radar sensors to provide high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging. The satellite successfully completed the majority of its Launch and Early Orbit Phase, validating key systems such as deployment, onboard computing, and communications.
However, communication was lost in the final phase, with the startup attributing the failure to radiation effects associated with a severe geomagnetic solar storm. This anomaly impacted a critical onboard system, leading to the disruption of contact with the spacecraft.
Why it matters
GalaxEye’s OptoSAR technology represents a significant advancement in Earth observation by merging optical and radar data, allowing continuous imaging regardless of weather conditions or time of day. The loss of communication is a setback for the Bengaluru-based startup as it seeks to establish credibility in the competitive satellite imaging market.
The incident highlights the challenges of operating in harsh space environments, especially for emerging space startups in India’s rapidly expanding spacetech sector, which is projected to grow to $21 billion by 2030. GalaxEye’s handling of this setback and its plans for upcoming launches will be closely watched as indicators of the sector’s resilience and innovation capabilities.
What to watch next
GalaxEye is preparing to launch two additional OptoSAR satellites within the next 24 months, aiming to enhance reliability and mission execution with strengthened in-house capabilities. The company continues to develop its mission control and satellite operations from its Bengaluru-based centers.
Investors and industry watchers will monitor these forthcoming launches as measures of the startup’s ability to overcome space weather challenges and deliver operational Earth observation data. Meanwhile, India’s broader spacetech ecosystem, including recent developments like Skyroot Aerospace’s unicorn status and Pixxel’s AI-powered satellite initiatives, underscores a dynamic environment supporting startups like GalaxEye.