Mention salient features of 'Mission Drishti'. Discuss the imaging techniques used in the satellite launched on 3rd May 2026. Why it is being considered world's first satellite of its kind?
Mission Drishti is an Earth-observation satellite developed by Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye Space Solutions (founded 2021 by IIT Madras alumni), launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California on 3 May 2026.
Salient Features:
- Weighs 190 kg — India's largest privately-built Earth observation satellite.
- Placed in Sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit at ~500 km altitude.
- Equipped with NVIDIA Jetson Orin platform for onboard AI processing, with electric propulsion for extended orbital life.
- Delivers a fused resolution of approximately 1.8 metres.
- Dual-use platform for defence surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, maritime monitoring and infrastructure planning.
- Partnered with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for worldwide imagery distribution; GalaxEye aims for a constellation of 10 OptoSAR satellites by 2030.
Imaging Techniques — 'OptoSAR' (SyncFusion):
Conventional satellites use either optical or radar imaging, each with limitations:
- Optical (Electro-Optical/Multispectral) Imaging: visual-spectrum, photo-like clarity, but fails under clouds or at night.
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): microwave-pulse imaging, works day-night through clouds, but produces coarse, harder-to-interpret data.
Drishti integrates both technologies on a single platform, using onboard AI to fuse optical and radar data in real time, producing analysis-ready imagery. A proprietary technology stack synchronises the sensors so both observe the same location at the same time, eliminating manual alignment of datasets from different satellites.
Why 'World's First of Its Kind':
- Globally the first satellite to integrate Electro-Optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar sensors into a single operational platform, enabling all-weather, day-and-night imaging.
- Expected to generate up to three times more information than conventional optical satellites.
- Marks India's leap into commercial, high-value dual-use space technology by a private player.
Mission Drishti symbolises the maturation of India's private space ecosystem under IN-SPACe reforms.
Answered By:
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