New Delhi: Days after the Indian space startup GalaxEye launched the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, combining the capabilities of synthetic aperture radar and multispectral imaging, trackers have raised concerns over it tumbling in orbit.
Citing open-source satellite tracking networks, trackers claimed that GalaxEye’s Mission Drishti was “tumbling in orbit at the rate of around 3 degrees per sec (or one rotation every two minutes) ever since it was deployed.”
“So are we all going to just casually ignore the fact that in the publicly available open-source data, anyone can see that Drishti is still tumbling in orbit at the rate of ~3°/sec (or one rotation every two minutes) ever since it was deployed?” @Astro_Neel, a space communication handle on X, said in a post.
AstroNeel quoted data from Satellite Networked Open Ground Station (SatNOGS), a free software and open-source hardware platform.
Another space communication handle, Gareeb Scientist, also highlighted that the satellite was potentially not stabilised.
“Galaxeye’s Drishti sat potentially tumbling and not stabilised yet. So, I guess the signal received was TTC (satellite telemetry, tracking and command) via omni directional antennas. The situation will be more clear in the next few passes,” the post read.
A tumbling rate of 3 degrees per second means the satellite is rotating with poor control in space at a speed of 3 degrees every second, completing a full rotation in about two minutes. Satellites typically require highly stable orientation to keep antennas pointed toward Earth, solar panels facing the Sun, and cameras fixed on targets. A sustained tumble at this rate can interfere with communications, imaging, and power generation, and may indicate a problem with the spacecraft’s attitude control system.
The possible failure of the satellite is particularly concerning in light of the recent string of space missions by India. Apart from its civilian applications, GalaxEye’s OptoSAR is also capable of serving military needs.
Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye Space launched the world’s first OptoSAR imaging satellite, Mission Drishti, on 3 May aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from California. The satellite combines optical imagery and classic synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which is designed to provide a new, improved form of earth observation.
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‘All is well’
GalaxEye founder Suyash Singh would like the online space community to “hold on” before it starts speculating about the health of the satellite.
“Love the interest in Drishti. Never saw this level of interest or info floating around on previously launched sats,” Singh wrote in a reply to AstroNeel’s post. “Hold on buddy, Not everyday these kind of satellites get launched. If something is wrong, we will let the world know. Keep calm.”
The company did not officially respond to ThePrint’s queries.
GalaxEye’s first-ever space mission, Mission Drishti, carries the largest satellite launched by an Indian private player. It weighs a whopping 190 kg and is designed to capture all-weather, day-and-night imagery. Its applications include defence, agriculture, disaster management, and even maritime monitoring services.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)