GalaxEye Tests Imaging Payload in Extreme Space Conditions

Space startup GalaxEye has successfully tested its SyncFusion Imaging System under extreme cold conditions in orbit, according to a press release issued by the company. The payload, which was aboard ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM) on the December 30, 2024, Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, was activated while passing through the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a region of weak Earth’s magnetic field.

GalaxEye’s CEO and co-founder Suyash Singh stated that the test was conducted in temperatures around -10°C, despite uncertainties due to the prototype nature of the payload. The company is now considering further testing in high-temperature conditions, where temperatures could reach 150°C.

The SyncFusion Imaging System combines Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical imagery, aiming to enable applications in defence, agriculture, and disaster management. The system is designed to process and compress large volumes of data in under 10 minutes, facilitating real-time analysis.

The payload validation was carried out using ISRO’s POEM platform, which repurposes the PSLV rocket’s fourth stage as an orbital testbed. This test aligns with GalaxEye’s plans for Mission Drishti, a multi-sensor satellite project focused on high-resolution, all-weather imaging.

Founded in 2021, GalaxEye is developing a multi-sensor satellite intended to deliver high-resolution data for various industry applications.