Breaking new ground in India’s space tech, MIRA’s NASA-grade certification propels the ultra-light telescope toward orbit and strengthens domestic high-precision imaging systems.
India’s first miniaturised space telescope, MIRA, has been certified space-ready after completing thermo-vacuum tests conducted to NASA standards. The achievement marks a milestone for Hyderabad-based startup EON Space Labs, which designed and built the ultra-light instrument entirely in India.
The telescope, which weighs just 502 grams, is now qualified for low-Earth-orbit missions. It will fly aboard a satellite scheduled for launch in December 2025, providing a heritage flight and validating its performance in space.
MIRA is intended for dual-use applications, including strategic defence needs and commercial earth-observation services.
Thermo-vacuum testing was carried out at an NABL-accredited facility in Ahmedabad. The telescope was subjected to extreme temperature cycles from –20°C to +60°C and operated under vacuum levels below 10⁻⁵ torr.
EON Space Labs said the payload exceeded requirements, showing negligible outgassing and no observable drift in its optical or structural components.
The system was also integrated with the onboard computing platform of its satellite partners. During simulations, MIRA demonstrated autonomous imaging and telemetry functions, proving its readiness for in-orbit operations.
The company said the result confirms that complex, high-precision imaging payloads can now be developed and qualified domestically.
Co-founder Sanjay Kumar described the certification as a breakthrough for India’s space ecosystem. He said it demonstrates the ability to build advanced electro-optical instruments domestically without relying on foreign technology.
Fellow co-founder Punit Badeka noted that MIRA offers high-quality imaging at a fraction of the mass of traditional telescopes, helping reduce payload deployment costs that often range between USD 10,000 and 20,000 per kilogram.
EON Space Labs is also working on LUMIRA, its next-generation EO/IR aerial imaging platform. Designed for drones, UAVs, eVTOLs and fixed-wing aircraft, LUMIRA forms part of the company’s strategy to create vertically integrated optical systems for space, air and ground-based missions.
Read EON Space Labs’ exclusive conversation with EFY here.
