PM Modi Praises Launch of World’s First OptoSAR Satellite ‘Mission Drishti’

The satellite, developed by Bengaluru-based space start-up GalaxEye, was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from California on May 3.

In a post on X, PM Modi described the mission as a landmark achievement. “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,” he said.

He also congratulated the company’s founders and team, extending his best wishes for their future endeavours.

About Mission Drishti

Mission Drishti is the first satellite in the world to integrate electro-optical (EO) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors into a single operational platform. This dual-technology approach allows for more comprehensive Earth observation capabilities under various weather and lighting conditions.

Weighing 160 kilograms, it is the largest privately developed satellite in India and also the highest-resolution satellite built in the country, according to GalaxEye. The company plans to deploy a constellation of 8–10 satellites by 2029.

The satellite is designed as a dual-use Earth observation platform, with applications spanning defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime surveillance, and infrastructure planning. It is expected to complement India’s existing network of 29 Earth observation satellites, as noted in ISRO’s latest annual report.

Founded in 2021 by engineers from IIT Madras, GalaxEye focuses on advancing next-generation Earth observation technologies. The company says its OptoSAR system unlocks imaging capabilities that were previously unattainable with conventional satellites.

“OptoSAR imagery enables insights that were impossible with traditional satellites,” the company stated, adding that the system is built to be reliable, predictable, and ready to power the next wave of satellite-based applications.