Why this development matters
Hyderabad Start-ups Power India’s Mini Satellite Leap: India’s private space sector has crossed another milestone with Hyderabad-based start-ups successfully preparing a compact Earth observation satellite for launch. The satellite has completed testing and integration and is now ready for deployment as a co-passenger on an upcoming PSLV mission in early January 2026.
This achievement reflects the growing confidence of Indian start-ups in handling end-to-end satellite development. It also aligns with India’s broader push towards affordable and indigenous space solutions.
Mission overview
The mission, named MOI-1, has been developed by TakeMe2Space, with advanced electro-optics support from EON Space Labs. The satellite will operate in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of around 500 km.
Its projected operational life is three to five years, making it suitable for sustained commercial and strategic use. The satellite is designed to serve both civilian and defence-oriented applications.
Static GK fact: Low Earth Orbit typically ranges from 160 km to 2,000 km above Earth and is preferred for Earth observation missions due to lower latency and higher image resolution.
Compact design with high capability
The satellite weighs only 14 kg, which is significantly lighter than traditional Earth observation satellites that often weigh between 100 and 200 kg. Despite its small size, it delivers robust imaging performance.
It offers a 9.2-metre spatial resolution with an 18.7 km swath width. The satellite supports multispectral imaging across nine spectral bands, enabling detailed surface analysis.
These features allow it to support applications such as agriculture monitoring, urban planning, ship detection, and infrastructure tracking.
Advanced onboard intelligence
A key innovation of this satellite is its ability to process data in orbit using artificial intelligence. Instead of transmitting raw imagery to Earth, onboard computing enables selective data processing.
This significantly reduces bandwidth requirements and lowers overall operational costs. It also allows faster access to actionable insights for users.
Static GK Tip: In-orbit data processing reduces dependency on ground stations and improves response time during disaster monitoring.
Indigenous technology push
The satellite is integrated with MIRA, a miniaturised space telescope developed locally. Most components are indigenously built, with only one foreign element used for high-performance computing.
The total build cost stands at ₹2.5 crore, making it 40–70% cheaper than comparable global satellites. This demonstrates India’s growing capability to deliver high-tech space solutions at competitive costs.
Significance for India’s space ecosystem
This mission highlights the expanding role of start-ups in India’s space economy. It supports the vision of low-cost, high-performance satellites and strengthens India’s dual-use capabilities.
The launch from Sriharikota as one of nearly 18 co-passenger payloads also showcases efficient utilisation of launch vehicles. Overall, the mission reinforces India’s emergence as a hub for commercial and strategic space innovation.
Static GK fact: Co-passenger payload launches help optimise launch costs and maximise rocket payload capacity.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Hyderabad Start-ups Power India’s Mini Satellite Leap:
| Topic | Detail |
| Mission Name | MOI-1 |
| Developers | TakeMe2Space and EON Space Labs |
| Satellite Weight | 14 kg |
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit at 500 km |
| Imaging Capability | 9.2 m resolution, 9 spectral bands |
| Key Innovation | AI-based in-orbit data processing |
| Build Cost | ₹2.5 crore |
| Launch Vehicle | PSLV |
| Launch Site | Sriharikota |
| Operational Life | 3–5 years |
