Space Startup's SAR on a HAP
Bengaluru-based space tech company, Galaxeye Space, has achieved a major milestone. They successfully flew their own synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Pune. This test flight, conducted in May 2024, marks a significant leap in Earth observation technology for India. SAR is a powerful radar system that can create high-resolution images of the Earth's surface, even through clouds or darkness. Traditionally, SAR has been flown on satellites, but this approach can be expensive and time-consuming. HAPS offers a unique alternative. These are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to operate at very high altitudes for extended periods, providing a more accessible platform for SAR technology. Galaxeye Space's achievement demonstrates the potential of HAPS for Earth observation. This successful test paves the way for more affordable and responsive data collection, with applications in dis