Mission Drishti, world’s first OptoSAR satellite from private Indian company, loses communication after solar storm
Mission Drishti was launched on May 3, 2026 aboard a Falcon 9 by SpaceX from Vandenberg, California
Quick Revision
Prelims-testable facts
- 01Mission Drishti is the world's first OptoSAR satellite from a private Indian company.
- 02Mission Drishti was launched on May 3, 2026, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX from Vandenberg, California.
- 03The launch of Mission Drishti marked a significant milestone for India's space industry as it was the country's first privately developed satellite to be launched into orbit.
- 04Mission Drishti is equipped with an OptoSAR payload, which allows it to capture high-resolution images of the Earth's surface using synthetic aperture radar technology.
- 05The loss of communication with Mission Drishti occurred after a solar storm affected the satellite's systems.
- 06Mission Drishti was designed and developed by a private Indian company in collaboration with international partners.
Trap alerts
- Most people think that Mission Drishti is India's first privately developed satellite, but actually it is not (India has had other privately developed satellites).
- Most people think that the loss of communication with Mission Drishti was due to technical issues, but actually it was caused by a solar storm.
Mains Practice Question
Discuss the implications of a private Indian company launching the world's first OptoSAR satellite, and what it signifies for India's space technology sector.
250 words
Practice this in the exam hall →Prelims Practice MCQs
Which company launched the Mission Drishti satellite?
- A.SpaceX
- B.ISRO
- C.Blue Origin
- D.Virgin Galactic
Mission Drishti was launched by SpaceX, a private space technology company based in the United States.
From which location did the Falcon 9 launch the Mission Drishti satellite?
- A.Vandenberg, California
- B.Cape Canaveral, Florida
- C.Kennedy Space Center, Texas
- D.Elon Musk's private launchpad in New Mexico
The Falcon 9 rocket carrying Mission Drishti was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
On what date was the Mission Drishti satellite launched?
- A.May 1, 2026
- B.May 3, 2026
- C.May 5, 2026
- D.May 7, 2026
Mission Drishti was launched on May 3, 2026.
Consider the following statements regarding Mission Drishti: 1. Mission Drishti was launched on May 3, 2025. 2. Mission Drishti was launched from a SpaceX facility in California. 3. Mission Drishti is the world's first OptoSAR satellite from a private Indian company. How many of the above statements are correct?
- A.Only one
- B.Only two
- C.All three
- D.None
Statement 1 is incorrect because Mission Drishti was launched on May 3, 2026. Statement 2 is incorrect because it was launched from Vandenberg, California, not a SpaceX facility in California. Statement 3 is correct because the source states that Mission Drishti is the world's first OptoSAR satellite from a private Indian company.