GalaxEye Acquires StarOps To Expand Satellite Engineering Capabilities

Spacetech startup GalaxEye has acquired Bengaluru-based spacecraft engineering company StarOps to deepen its in-house satellite engineering capabilities. 

The integration also adds a portfolio of indigenous spacecraft technologies, including a qualified satellite bus platform across the 50 kg, 150 kg and 250 kg classes, proprietary subsystem technologies, qualification heritage, testing infrastructure and engineering tools.

With more than 66% indigenisation across its satellite systems, StarOps has developed technologies that reduce dependence on global supply chains while enabling faster development cycles and lower mission costs.

“From day one, our vision has been to build a company that develops and owns the technologies defining the future of space. This acquisition is an important milestone in that journey, and through StarOps, the in-depth engineering legacy continues,” GalaxyEye’s CEO and cofounder Suyash Singh said.

Founded in 2021 by Singh, Denil Chawda, Kishan Thakkar, Pranit Mehta, and Rakshit Bhatt, GalaxEye is building vertically integrated, indigenous space tech for defence, national security and commercial applications.

The IIT Madras-incubated startup is building earth observation capabilities via its proprietary OptoSAR technology. The tech combines synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical imaging to deliver high-resolution imaging and geospatial intelligence. Its solutions cater to sectors such as defence, agriculture, infrastructure and disaster management. 

The acquisition comes shortly after the spacetech startup launched its satellite under ‘Mission Drishti’, seeking to establish in-orbit credibility in the earth observation segment. Months after the launch, GalaxEye lost its connection with the spacecraft after an anomaly linked to a geomagnetic solar storm. 

“While the satellite experienced an anomaly following an extreme space weather event, the mission has provided invaluable engineering insights that will directly strengthen our future missions,” the startup said while announcing the connection loss.

The acquisition comes in the light of GalaxEye now aiming to launch two new OptoSAR satellites within the next 24 months while expanding its in-house capabilities to further strengthen quality, reliability, and execution. 

The development comes at a time when the Indian spacetech ecosystem is soaring to new highs. Last month, Skyroot’s Vikram-1 launch vehicle completed ‘Mission Aagaman’ after lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, becoming the first private Indian company to place a rocket into orbit. 

Now, the unicorn company is reportedly planning to raise $200 Mn at a valuation of $2 Bn.

Last month, spacetech startup Agnikul also onboarded former ISRO chairman Dr Somanath S as an observer to its board as it is undertaking its second space mission.

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