Model answer & approach
- Mention salient features of ‘Mission Drishti’. Discuss the imaging techniques used in the satellite launched on 3rd May 2026. Why it is being considered world’s first satellite of its kind ? (Answer in 250 words)
Introduction
Mission Drishti, developed by Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye, is an advanced Earth-observation mission launched on 3 May 2026 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9. It represents a major milestone for India’s private space sector.
Body
Salient Features:
1. India’s largest privately built Earth-observation satellite, weighing about 190 kg.
2. Operates in a sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit at around 500 km altitude.
3. Provides spatial resolution of roughly 1.2–3.6 metres and a revisit frequency of about four days.
4. Designed for all-weather, day-and-night observation, useful for defence, agriculture, disaster management, maritime surveillance and infrastructure monitoring.
Imaging Techniques:
1. Multispectral Imaging (MSI): Passive optical sensors record reflected sunlight across PAN, RGB, NIR, Coastal Blue and Red Edge bands, providing visually intuitive and spectral information. However, optical imaging is affected by clouds and darkness.
2. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR): Active X-band microwave radar sends signals towards Earth and records their reflections. It can operate at night and penetrate clouds, haze and smoke.
3. OptoSAR Fusion: The satellite combines and aligns SAR and multispectral data to produce fused, analysis-ready imagery.
Why World’s First?
Drishti is considered the world’s first OptoSAR imaging satellite because it integrates MSI and SAR sensors on the same satellite platform, enabling inherently aligned observations of the same area and overcoming the limitations of either technology used independently.
Conclusion
Thus, Mission Drishti combines optical clarity with radar reliability, advancing persistent Earth observation and demonstrating India’s growing capabilities in private-sector space innovation.
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