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Relevance: GS-III (Science and Technology, Space Awareness, Disaster Management) Source: Space Tech News, July 2026

1 · What exactly happened?

A Bengaluru-based start-up named GalaxEye recently lost contact with Mission Drishti. It was India’s largest privately built Earth observation satellite and the world’s first to use OptoSAR technology.

Launched successfully on May 3, 2026, via a SpaceX rocket, the satellite unfortunately ran into a massive geomagnetic solar storm in its early orbit.  While recovery is highly unlikely, the good news is the technology successfully proved it worked for a few weeks before failing.

2 · The Magic of OptoSAR Technology

Normally, satellites look at the Earth using either regular cameras (Optical) or radar (SAR). Mission Drishti did something revolutionary: it combined both into a single, highly advanced system.

The Camera
Optical Sensors
These work like a high-end digital camera. They give beautiful, easy-to-read pictures of the Earth. But, they have a huge flaw: they go completely blind if it is cloudy, foggy, or dark.
The Radar
SAR Sensors
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) shoots radar waves. It can “see” straight through heavy monsoon clouds and pitch-black nights. However, the data looks messy and is hard for humans to understand quickly.
The Game Changer
OptoSAR Fusion
Mission Drishti fused both! It takes the cloud-piercing ability of radar and turns it into clear, camera-like images in real-time. This means we get perfect pictures 24/7, no matter the weather.
The Culprit
Solar Storms
High-energy particles erupting from the Sun crash into Earth’s magnetic field. This creates intense radiation in space that can easily destroy delicate microchips on satellites.

  • Who made it? GalaxEye is an incredibly talented start-up incubated at IIT-Madras. They previously made waves in 2019 as finalists in Elon Musk’s SpaceX Hyperloop competition.
  • OptoSAR:  is a pioneering hybrid space technology that integrates Electro-Optical (EO) multispectral imaging sensors and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors onto a single satellite platform.
  • What is next? GalaxEye isn’t giving up. Using the lessons learned from Drishti, they plan to launch two bigger (300 kg) satellites in the next 24 months.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
IN-SPACe The single-window government agency created to support, regulate, and authorize private space companies (like GalaxEye) in India.
Indian Space Policy 2023 A major policy that tells ISRO to focus on deep-space science (like Moon/Mars missions) while letting private start-ups handle commercial satellite launches.
SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) An “active” sensor. It emits its own radio waves to map the Earth, which is why it doesn’t need sunlight and works perfectly through clouds.
Geomagnetic Storm A temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave. It is a major hazard for modern satellites.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to Earth Observation technologies and India’s space sector, consider the following statements:

  1. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can penetrate cloud cover to capture images of the Earth’s surface during both day and night.
  2. IN-SPACe is an autonomous agency created to regulate and promote private sector participation in Indian space activities.
  3. A satellite relying exclusively on optical sensors is highly effective for imaging the ground during heavy monsoon cloud cover.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: SAR uses radar waves that easily pass through clouds and darkness, making it a 24/7 imaging tool.
  • Statement 2 — Correct: IN-SPACe was specifically created under the Department of Space to be the single-window agency for private space companies.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect (the trap): Purely optical sensors are like normal cameras. They rely on sunlight and a clear line of sight, meaning they are completely blind during heavy monsoon cloud cover.
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