India’s private space sector continues to grow as two Hyderabad-based start-ups successfully prepare a compact Earth observation satellite for launch. Built at a fraction of the usual cost and time, this mini-satellite reflects India’s shift towards affordable, indigenous, and high-tech space solutions. The mission also highlights strong collaboration between start-ups, private aerospace facilities, and ISRO’s launch ecosystem, strengthening India’s commercial and strategic space capabilities.   Two Hyderabad start ups have completed testing and integration of a 14 kg Earth observation mini-satellite in Ahmedabad and shipped it to Sriharikota. The satellite will be launched as a co-passenger on ISRO’s PSLV mission in early January 2026.   The mission is called MOI-1, developed by TakeMe2Space with electro-optics support from EON Space Labs.   It will operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at around 500 km altitude.   The satellite is designed for commercial and defence applications.  Its projected operational life is 3-5 years.

Key Features of the Satellite

·         Weight: Only 14 kg (much lighter than conventional 100-200 kg satellites).

·         Camera Resolution: 9.2 metres with an 18.7 km swath.

·         Multispectral Imaging: Captures data in nine spectral bands.

·         Applications: Agriculture monitoring, urban mapping, ship detection, construction tracking.

·         Onboard Computing: Processes data in orbit using AI instead of sending raw images.

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·         Integrated with MIRA, a miniaturized space telescope developed by EON Space Labs.

·         Built and tested at Azista BST Aerospace, Sanand GIDC, Ahmedabad.

·         Total build cost: ₹2.5 crore, about 40–70% cheaper than global equivalents.

·         Uses mostly indigenously developed hardware, with only one foreign component (Nvidia GPU).This marks a shift towards in-orbit data processing, reducing downlink costs and making Earth observation more accessible.

·         Shows the rising role of start-ups in India’s space economy.   Supports the vision of low-cost, high-performance satellites...Enhances dual-use capabilities for both civilian and defense needs...Aligns with ISRO’s push to open space launches to private players.

·         The satellite will launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre as one of about 18 co-passenger payloads.