GalaxEye eyes sovereign demand as maiden satellite launch nears

Chennai: Earth observation deep-tech startup GalaxEye Space has taken a crucial step towards commercialisation as it prepares to launch its first satellite in two weeks. The startup, which offers satellite data as a service for defence and commercial applications, plans to deploy a constellation of 20 satellites over the decade, with at least 10 slated for launch in three years.Speaking to TOI, co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh said the company is moving from pilot projects to commercial agreements, driven by defence demand and policy tailwinds. "The conflicts have made buyers realise the importance of space-based surveillance more than before. Everyone has understood that space-based surveillance is something they cannot avoid, and this has created urgency around defence demand," he said. The company is also betting on India's indigenisation push. "There is a lot of interest in Make in India and Own in India, and that is creating momentum," he added.GalaxEye has a resale agreement with NewSpace India (NSIL), under the Department of Space, which will ease sales to government departments without lengthy procurement processes. Beyond India, the startup is taking the channel-partnership route, and Singh said it is signing agreements with several global channel partners.The 190kg-200kg satellite combines optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, delivering coordinated images from both sensors simultaneously. This makes its earth observation data readable in any weather, around the clock. Dubbed the world's first optical-SAR fusion satellite, it is also the largest satellite built by a private Indian company. Beyond defence, it has applications in agriculture, insurance and disaster management.