New Delhi: Bengaluru-based space startup GalaxEye Tuesday successfully tested its synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology on a subscale high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), a company spokesperson said.
“With this achievement, GalaxEye becomes the world’s first private entity to conduct SAR trials on the HAPS platform,” the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
HAPS are high-altitude, solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that operate in the stratosphere about 20 kilometres above ground level. The SAR, meanwhile, is a technique for producing fine-resolution images from a resolution-limited radar system.
Operating in the stratosphere, SAR technology becomes a game-changer, enabling all-weather, all-time imaging. It overcomes the challenge of cloud cover, a hindrance for traditional electro-optical cameras, and opens up new possibilities for the aerospace industry.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and GalaxEye, which aims to explore the development, integration, and testing of SAR payloads for HAPS.
Suyash Singh, co-founder and CEO of GalaxEye Space, said this strategic alliance underscores both entities’ commitment to advancing aerospace capabilities.
“The rigorous test flights undertaken have provided invaluable insights, paving the way for further R&D endeavours,” Singh said.
Singh said that the test’s success showcased India’s technological prowess. SAR technology for HAPS has been confined to a few governmental space agencies, with limited operational implementation until now.
“GalaxEye’s breakthrough will position India at the forefront of SAR innovation, aligning seamlessly with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. By bolstering national defence capabilities and fostering technological self-reliance, we aim to redefine global standards,” he said.
Beyond its implications for defence operations, SAR also holds immense potential for environmental monitoring and disaster management.
An NAL spokesperson explained that the laboratory’s focus remained on optimising SAR with low SWaP (size, weight, and power) characteristics, unlocking unique phenomenology.
“SAR technology is vital for HAPS, and GalaxEye’s drone-based SAR capabilities show promise for integrating such systems into HAPS. While the initial tests are encouraging, a series of further tests will be necessary before these platforms can be deployed for practical applications. We are positive about the possibilities,” the NAL spokesperson said.
In 2023, GalaxEye had partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to work on radar imaging through UAVs.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: India closer to new drone power as indigenous solar-powered pseudo-satellite flies for over 21 hrs