May proved highly productive for Indian space startups, which gained attention both domestically and internationally. Bengaluru firm GalaxEye launched Mission Drishti, the first OptoSAR satellite worldwide, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg, California. This privately built Earth observation satellite, the largest of its kind in India, serves defence, farming, disaster response, maritime surveillance and infrastructure needs. It will support ISRO’s existing fleet of 29 Earth observation satellites. Contact with the spacecraft was confirmed shortly after liftoff. Shortly afterward, Pixxel secured a contract from the US National Reconnaissance Office to supply advanced commercial remote-sensing data. The firm also partnered with Sarvam to create Pathfinder, India’s first orbital data-centre satellite. The 200 kg spacecraft is planned for launch in late 2026, with Pixxel handling construction and operations while Sarvam supplies onboard AI systems. Nine Indian space companies attended Space Meetings Veneto 2026 in Venice, resulting in several collaboration announcements. Astrobase Space Technologies signed an MoU with Impulso Space for launch services, Kepler Aerospace agreed with Apogeo Space on ground-station infrastructure, and VyomIC announced work on navigation technologies. Skyroot Aerospace raised $60 million, reaching a $1.1 billion valuation and becoming India’s first space unicorn; the funds will accelerate Vikram-1’s debut from Sriharikota later this year and support development of Vikram-2. AnduraX will conduct a high-altitude balloon test of its reusable re-entry vehicle in early June. ISTRAC and SAMEER signed an agreement to develop high-power systems using indigenous semiconductors for deep-space communications. IN-SPACe also issued an expression of interest inviting private firms to receive PSLV technology.
