GalaxEye buys StarOps to build satellites in-house, plans two launches in 24 months
What's the deal? Space technology startup GalaxEye has acquired Bengaluru-based spacecraft engineering company StarOpsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to deepen its in-house satellite engineering. The deal brings StarOps' proprietary technologies, qualified satellite platforms, and an experienced engineering team — several of whom previously worked at TeamIndusDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → on its Lunar Lander and Rover projects.
What each side brings: Founded in 2022, StarOps develops satellite platforms and works on indigenising spacecraft technologies in India. It has achieved more than 66% indigenisation across its satellite systems, plus qualified satellite bus platforms across the 50kg, 150kg, and 250kg classes.
What's the endgame? Founded in 2021, GalaxEye is building vertically integrated Earth observation capabilities via its proprietary OptoSAR technology, which combines Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical imaging for all-weather, day-and-night imaging. The startup has raised over $26.9 million and serves defence, agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster management.
Why now? The deal follows GalaxEye's ‘Mission Drishti’ satellite launch, which lost connection after an anomaly linked to a geomagnetic solar storm. GalaxEye now aims to launch two new OptoSAR satellites within the next 24 months.
“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.
The signal: India's spacetech ecosystem is scaling fast. Last month, Skyroot's Vikram-1 became the first private Indian rocket in orbit, and the company is reportedly planning to raise $200 million at a $2 billion valuation — a backdrop that makes vertical integration a competitive necessity.
Read more: entrackr.com, GalaxEye, inc42.com
Image credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video
