Indian space startup GalaxEye wins US patent for satellite imaging technology

Indian space technology startup GalaxEye said on Tuesday it had secured a U.S. patent for a system that synchronises optical and radar sensors on satellites, strengthening its position in the fast-growing market for Earth imaging data.

The patent award ‌comes at ⁠a ⁠time when demand for satellite-based intelligence is growing across security, ​agriculture, insurance and disaster-response applications.

The global commercial satellite imaging market, valued at $6.55 billion in 2024, is projected to more than triple to $20.15 billion by 2033, according to research firm SkyQuest Technology.


GalaxEye, which has ⁠so far ‌raised around $21 million in funding, said ​the patent ​covers technology that synchronises optical and ⁠radar sensors to capture precisely aligned images of ​the same location simultaneously, delivering reliable Earth ​observation data even in cloud cover and darkness.

"This patented technology enables us to serve the global markets and provide weather-agnostic imaging capabilities across sectors," CEO Suyash Singh said.

The startup, founded by IIT ‌Madras engineers, plans to build a 30-satellite constellation over the next five years, backed by ​a ​growing commercial pipeline ⁠across domestic and international customers, it said.

In August, GalaxEye acquired Bengaluru-based spacecraft engineering firm StarOps to strengthen its in-house ​manufacturing and satellite system capabilities.

India expects its commercial space industry to be worth $44 billion within the decade and is encouraging private companies to invest in the sector.