Mod 2: Satellite Missions (GalaxEye & Gaganyaan-1)

GalaxEye's 'Mission Drishti' Loses Contact:

Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye lost contact in July with its 'Mission Drishti' satellite, which was launched on May 3, 2026, from California via SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The 190 kg satellite was the largest Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) developed by an Indian private company and the world's first 'Optosar' satellite (capable of capturing Earth images day and night). According to the company, a severe geomagnetic solar storm caused technical glitches, radiating critical systems and permanently severing contact.

Gaganyaan-1 Mission:

• Introduction: Gaganyaan-1 is a crucial unmanned test mission for India's first human spaceflight program (Gaganyaan Program).
• Objective: Its primary goal is to test the technical capabilities for the safe re-entry and successful sea recovery of the Crew Module.
• Vyommitra: A female humanoid robot named 'Vyommitra' was sent to monitor the effects on the human body in space.
• Launch Vehicle & Safety: The 'LVM3' (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) rocket, human-rated for Gaganyaan, was used. It included tests of the Crew Escape System (CES) designed to save astronauts in emergencies.
• Significance: Success in this Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission is a decisive step toward making India the fourth country (after the US, Russia, and China) to send humans to space.