Indian space technology startup GalaxEye has acquired Bengaluru-based spacecraft engineering company StarOps, bringing satellite bus development, spacecraft systems expertise, and proprietary technologies under its expanding operations. StarOps traces its engineering roots to TeamIndus, one of India’s early private space ventures, with several members of its team having contributed to the development of the TeamIndus Lunar Lander and Rover. The transaction strengthens GalaxEye’s strategy of becoming a vertically integrated space company capable of developing Earth observation payloads, satellite platforms, and complete missions internally.
Expanding Satellite Engineering Capabilities
Founded in 2022, StarOps was established to develop satellite platforms while increasing the domestic production of critical spacecraft technologies in India. Its engineering team has experience spanning spacecraft systems engineering, mission operations, propulsion, avionics, flight computing, guidance and navigation, structures, electrical systems, program management, and ground operations. The company also draws on the expertise of veteran engineers from the Indian Space Research Organisation who have worked on the design, qualification, and delivery of complex space missions.
The acquisition gives GalaxEye access to qualified satellite bus platforms across the 50-kilogram, 150-kilogram, and 250-kilogram classes, alongside proprietary subsystems, testing infrastructure, engineering tools, and qualification experience. StarOps has achieved more than 66% indigenization across its satellite systems, according to the companies, helping reduce reliance on international supply chains while potentially shortening development timelines and lowering mission costs. Integrating these capabilities is expected to allow GalaxEye to control a larger share of the satellite development process rather than relying extensively on external spacecraft suppliers.
Building an Integrated Space Technology Platform
GalaxEye is developing next-generation Earth observation systems centered on its proprietary OptoSAR technology, which combines Synthetic Aperture Radar with optical imaging capabilities. The approach is designed to provide Earth observation intelligence during both day and night and across varying weather conditions, supporting applications in defense, national security, and commercial markets. Adding StarOps’ spacecraft engineering expertise enables GalaxEye to combine its imaging payload technology with internally developed satellite platforms and critical spacecraft subsystems.
GalaxEye Co-founder and CEO Suyash Singh said the acquisition advances the company’s long-term goal of owning the technologies required to design, engineer, and operate advanced space systems. He highlighted StarOps’ engineering experience as a significant addition to GalaxEye’s satellite capabilities and emphasized the importance of developing complete space systems from India for international markets. The integration is also expected to expand GalaxEye’s internal engineering capacity as it works toward deploying a constellation of satellites equipped with its OptoSAR technology.
StarOps Brings TeamIndus Engineering Heritage
StarOps Co-founder and Missions Lead Nirmal Suraj Gadde began his space-sector career at TeamIndus, where he gained experience developing space missions and participating in bids for international space agency contracts. He said StarOps was created around the goal of developing indigenous satellite systems and manufacturing capabilities that could support the expansion of India’s commercial space industry. Joining GalaxEye will allow the StarOps team to apply that experience to the development and deployment of GalaxEye’s planned Earth observation constellation.
The transaction also reflects the growing emphasis among Indian private space companies on developing critical technologies domestically as the country’s commercial space ecosystem expands. By combining StarOps’ spacecraft platforms and subsystem technologies with GalaxEye’s Earth observation payload capabilities, the company aims to deepen vertical integration and accelerate the transition from product development to complete mission delivery. GalaxEye expects the combined organization to manage a broader range of activities from mission concept and spacecraft engineering through deployment, operations, and eventual end-of-life management.
The acquisition of StarOps represents a significant expansion of GalaxEye’s technical capabilities as it works to establish an integrated Earth observation and satellite engineering business. Bringing experienced engineers, qualified spacecraft platforms, indigenous subsystem technologies, and mission expertise into the company could reduce development dependencies while supporting faster execution of future satellite programs. With its OptoSAR technology at the center of its strategy, GalaxEye is positioning itself to develop and operate increasingly complete space systems for defense, national security, and commercial customers in India and abroad.