GalaxEye Loses Contact With Satellite, Plans Two More Launches
Spacetech startup GalaxEye reported losing communication with its first OptoSAR satellite after an anomaly linked to a geomagnetic solar storm. The company plans two additional launches within 24 months.
Indian spacetech startup GalaxEye announced it lost communication with its first OptoSAR satellite, named 'Mission Drishti', following an anomaly attributed to a geomagnetic solar storm. The company stated that the spacecraft had completed a significant portion of its launch and early orbit phase before the connection was lost.
The satellite was part of GalaxEye's effort to establish credibility in the Earth observation market. 'Mission Drishti' was designed to combine optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capabilities for all-weather, day-and-night imaging. While the satellite successfully deployed and validated onboard systems, initial assessments suggest radiation effects from the space weather event likely impacted a critical component.
GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh indicated that despite the anomaly, the mission provided valuable engineering insights for future endeavors. The company also reported that the mission tested its in-house mission operations capabilities through its control center in Bengaluru.
GalaxEye aims to launch two new OptoSAR satellites within the next 24 months, seeking to enhance its in-house capabilities in quality, reliability, and execution. The startup, founded in 2021, is developing multi-sensor Earth observation satellites for sectors including defense, agriculture, and disaster management.