Space technology startup GalaxEye has acquired Bengaluru-based spacecraft engineering firm StarOps, a move the company describes as a major step toward becoming a fully vertically integrated space technology player. GalaxEye, which is building next-generation Earth Observation capabilities through its proprietary OptoSAR technology, has acquired StarOps, a company that traces its origins to TeamIndus, one of India’s pioneering private space ventures.
The acquisition brings StarOps’ proprietary technologies, qualified satellite platforms and deep systems engineering expertise, along with an experienced engineering team, several of whom previously worked at TeamIndus on the Lunar Lander and Rover. Incorporated in 2022, StarOps was established to develop satellite platforms and indigenise critical spacecraft technologies in India.
The deal significantly widens GalaxEye’s technical footprint. The acquisition adds qualified satellite bus platforms across 50 kg, 150 kg and 250 kg classes, along with testing infrastructure and engineering tools. StarOps’ team brings experience spanning spacecraft systems engineering, propulsion, avionics, flight computing, guidance and navigation, structures, electrical systems, mission operations and ground operations. Notably, more than 66% of StarOps’ satellite systems have already been indigenised, aligning with India’s broader push for self-reliance in critical space technologies.
Company officials frame the deal’s significance around vertical integration – controlling more stages of designing, building and operating a product rather than depending heavily on outside suppliers. The StarOps team will be further supported by a panel of veteran ISRO experts.
GalaxEye co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh called the transaction part of a larger effort to build spacecraft capabilities in-house. “By welcoming this exceptional team and their technologies into GalaxEye, we are significantly strengthening our capabilities across satellite engineering,” he said, adding that the combined company aims to design, engineer and operate “advanced space systems from India for the world.”
The human dimension of the deal draws directly from India’s early private space efforts. Nirmal Suraj Gadde, StarOps’ co-founder and missions lead, said his journey in space began at TeamIndus, where he learned to build missions from first principles – from developing technology to bidding for global space agency contracts. He said that experience is now moving to GalaxEye, as its work becomes part of the company’s ambitious plan to deploy a constellation of OptoSAR satellites.
Founded in 2021 by Singh along with Denil Chawda, Kishan Thakkar, Pranit Mehta and Rakshit Bhatt, GalaxEye is building vertically integrated, indigenous space technology for defence, national security and commercial applications. The IIT Madras-incubated startup develops earth observation capabilities via its proprietary OptoSAR technology, which combines synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical imaging to deliver high-resolution imaging and geospatial intelligence.
Beyond the immediate boost in engineering capacity, GalaxEye said the acquisition brings together complementary expertise and proven spacecraft technologies that will help it accelerate product development, deepen vertical integration and strengthen its ability to deliver space missions from concept through operations – positioning the combined entity as a more self-sufficient player in India’s fast-growing private space sector.
