Internet celebrates Galaxeye's launch of world's first OptoSAR satellite

India's private space industry crossed a significant threshold on Sunday as GalaxEye successfully placed its Mission Drishti satellite into orbit, riding aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The 190-kilogram satellite is the largest ever built by an Indian private company. Mission Drishti is described as the world's first OptoSAR satellite, integrating electro-optical and synthetic aperture radar sensors into a single operational platform. The combination means the satellite can deliver sharp optical imagery in clear conditions while simultaneously offering all-weather, day-and-night radar imaging.



The satellite was one of 45 payloads on the CAS500-2 rideshare mission.

Prime minister Narendra Modi called the launch "a major achievement" in India's space journey, saying the mission stood as "a testament to our youth's passion for innovation and nation-building."


"Congratulations to GalaxEye on the successful launch of Mission Drishti! A significant milestone in India’s space journey, with world’s first OptoSAR satellite and India's largest privately built satellite, advancing all-weather Earth observation capabilities," ISRO said in a post on X.


Others also shared in the startup's success.