Now Reading: GalaxEye acquires Bengaluru spacecraft engineering firm StarOps
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GalaxEye acquires Bengaluru spacecraft engineering firm StarOps
GalaxEye acquires Bengaluru spacecraft engineering firm StarOps
Space tech startup GalaxEye has acquired Bengaluru-based StarOps, a spacecraft engineering company incorporated in 2022. The deal brings StarOps’ proprietary satellite platforms, including qualified buses in the 50 kg, 150 kg and…
The Story in Brief
Space tech startup GalaxEye has acquired Bengaluru-based StarOps, a spacecraft engineering company incorporated in 2022. The deal brings StarOps’ proprietary satellite platforms, including qualified buses in the 50 kg, 150 kg and 250 kg classes, and a team experienced in mission design and operations, some of whom previously worked at TeamIndus on the Lunar Lander and Rover.
GalaxEye, incubated at IIT Madras and building Earth observation satellites with its OptoSAR technology, said the acquisition strengthens its in-house satellite engineering capabilities. The startup launched its first satellite under 'Mission Drishti' but later lost contact with it due to an anomaly linked to a geomagnetic solar storm. The Hindu reports GalaxEye now aims to launch two new OptoSAR satellites within 24 months.
The Indian Opinion
This acquisition shows Indian spacetech startups are moving beyond hype to vertical integration, but the recent loss of Mission Drishti's satellite reminds us that in-orbit credibility remains the real test. StarOps' 66 per cent indigenisation claim is impressive on paper, but will it translate to reliable systems after a geomagnetic storm? The next 24 months will tell if GalaxEye can deliver two OptoSAR satellites without another anomaly.
Sources (3): thehindu.com, deccanherald.com, inc42.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
