Bengaluru startup receives intellectual property protection for technology synchronising optical and radar imaging on a single orbital platform.
Indian space-tech startup GalaxEye has been granted a US patent for a technology designed to transform satellite Earth observation by integrating two distinct imaging methods onto a single spacecraft.
The Bengaluru-based company, founded by alumni of IIT Madras, confirmed that the patent covers a system that synchronises optical and radar sensors. This allows the satellite to capture precisely aligned images of the same location simultaneously, forming the core architecture of GalaxEye’s proprietary OptoSAR system.
Optical sensors function like high-resolution cameras, producing detailed, intuitive images that clearly show vegetation, infrastructure, and water bodies. However, they rely on sunlight and are easily obstructed by cloud cover. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) uses microwave signals to penetrate clouds and operate continuously day and night, offering reliable observation when optical views are obscured.
Combining data from both methods has historically presented significant challenges, as imagery captured by separate satellites at different times or angles often produces misaligned datasets. GalaxEye’s patented architecture resolves this by synchronising the sensors on one platform to generate time-aligned and spatially matched observations.
“This patented technology enables us to serve the global markets and provide weather-agnostic imaging capabilities across sectors,” said Chief Executive Suyash Singh.
The milestone arrives amid rapid growth in the satellite-based data sector, driven by demand in defence, agriculture, insurance, and disaster management. According to market research firm SkyQuest Technology, the global commercial satellite imaging market was valued at $6.55 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach $20.15 billion by 2033.
GalaxEye deployed the technology into orbit aboard its Mission Drishti satellite, launched on 3 May 2026. Recognised by the Indian government as the world’s first satellite to pair optical cameras with all-weather radar, the spacecraft experienced an operational setback in July 2026, losing contact following a geomagnetic solar storm. Despite the loss of communication, the company stated the mission successfully validated key spacecraft subsystems.
Following its acquisition of Bengaluru-based spacecraft engineering firm StarOps in August 2026 to enhance internal capabilities, GalaxEye aims to deploy a 30-satellite constellation over the next five years. The patent secures crucial intellectual property for the firm as India seeks to expand its domestic space economy towards a projected $44 billion valuation by 2033.
