Science TechnologyMonday, 4 May 2026·The Hindu
GalaxEye Space launches 190 kg Mission Drishti on SpaceX Falcon 9
GalaxEye Space launched its 190 kg Earth observation satellite Mission Drishti on May 3, 2026 aboard SpaceX Falcon 9.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On 3 May 2026, Bengaluru-based GalaxEye Space launched Mission Drishti, a 190 kg Earth observation satellite, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, making it the largest satellite built by a private India-based company to date.
Key specifics
- Mission Drishti weighs 190 kg.
- The satellite uses OptoSAR, a hybrid system combining optical imaging and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
- It can capture optical and radar data in a single pass, day and night, in all weather conditions.
- GalaxEye Space was established in 2021 by IIT Madras alumni.
- Primary uses include disaster response, agriculture monitoring, border surveillance and infrastructure planning.
Exam lens
Question type: space-tech and indigenous innovation; remember 3 May 2026, 190 kg, OptoSAR, and Falcon 9. TNPSC may ask why hybrid optical-SAR payloads are important for all-weather Earth observation.