Mission Drishti highlights youth-driven innovation, signals success of space sector reforms

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed Mission Drishti as a major milestone in India's space journey, following the successful launch of the world's first OptoSAR satellite by Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye.

In a post on X, Modi said the mission reflects the passion of India's youth for innovation and nation-building, and underlines the country's growing technological capabilities. He congratulated the founders and team of GalaxEye for the achievement.

Mission Drishti, the company's first commercial satellite, was launched aboard Falcon 9. Weighing around 190 kg, it is the largest privately developed Earth observation satellite in India.

Described as the world's first OptoSAR satellite, it integrates Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors into a single platform. This "SyncFused OptoSAR" payload enables high-resolution imaging in all weather conditions, both day and night—overcoming limitations of conventional optical satellites that are affected by cloud cover and darkness.

The Indian Space Association said the mission is a proof-of-concept for India's space sector reforms and signals a shift from small-scale testing to sovereign, all-weather surveillance capabilities.

Director General A K Bhatt noted that the milestone reflects the growing maturity of India's private space ecosystem, demonstrating that private players can now deliver critical technologies for national security and disaster response.

He added that the commercialisation ofOptoSAR placesGalaxEye among a select group of global players capable of integrating optical and radar imaging for persistent, decision-grade intelligence.

Mission Drishti is designed as a dual-use satellite with applications across defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime monitoring and infrastructure planning. It is expected to deliver consistent, high-quality data even in challenging environmental conditions, further strengthening India's position in the global space sector.

(With inputs from IANS