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Expert Explains | Why high-quality cameras matter for India’s Space ambitions

February 16, 2026 4 min read Science & Technology GS Paper 3
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What Happened

  • Hyderabad-based Azista Space successfully imaged the International Space Station (ISS) from its own satellite in orbit on February 3, 2026, marking a first for India's private space sector in space situational awareness (SSA).
  • The demonstration involved Azista's Earth-observation satellite tracking and imaging the ISS during two separate passes under near-horizon, sunlit conditions.
  • The government plans to invest Rs 27,000 crore ($3.2 billion) in 52 surveillance satellites under the Space Based Surveillance (SBS) Phase-III project, with the first satellite expected to launch in 2026.
  • The Ministry of Defence is adopting a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) architecture using a mix of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for all-weather/night vision and high-resolution optical sensors.
  • ISRO is setting up telescopes and radars in four locations (Leh, Mount Abu, Ponmudi, and a site in Northeast India) to cover all cardinal directions for space situational awareness.

Static Topic Bridges

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Project NETRA

Space Situational Awareness refers to the capability to track, monitor, and predict the movement of objects in space, including operational satellites, defunct satellites, rocket bodies, and debris fragments. ISRO's Project NETRA (Network for space object TRacking and Analysis), announced in September 2019, is India's indigenous SSA initiative.

  • Project NETRA gives India an independent capability to monitor, catalogue, and predict orbital debris and near-Earth objects that could endanger Indian satellites, reducing dependence on the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) for collision warnings.
  • The Directorate of Space Situational Awareness and Management (DSSAM), headquartered in Bengaluru, operates the data fusion and control centre that ingests sensor data, correlates orbits, predicts conjunctions, and issues collision-avoidance alerts.
  • NETRA's sensors can detect debris as small as 10 cm in low Earth orbit (LEO) and larger objects in geosynchronous orbit (GEO).
  • ISRO carried out 19 collision-avoidance manoeuvres in 2021, up from 3 in 2015, reflecting the rapidly growing threat of orbital congestion.
  • In 2024, ISRO released its first Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) using NETRA data, and construction of India's first dedicated debris-tracking phased-array radar began at Chandrapur, Assam, in 2025.

Connection to this news: Azista Space's achievement demonstrates that India's private space sector can complement ISRO's Project NETRA capabilities, providing satellite-to-satellite imaging that adds a new dimension to India's SSA infrastructure beyond ground-based telescopes and radars.

India's Defence Space Architecture

India's military space architecture has expanded significantly following the establishment of the Defence Space Agency (DSA) in 2019 and India's anti-satellite (ASAT) test (Mission Shakti) in March 2019. The 52-satellite surveillance constellation marks a shift toward a resilient, proliferated orbital architecture.

  • The Defence Space Agency (DSA), headquartered in Bengaluru, was established in 2019 as a tri-service agency to coordinate military space operations for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
  • Mission Shakti (March 27, 2019) demonstrated India's ASAT capability by destroying a defunct Indian satellite (Microsat-R) at 300 km altitude in LEO, making India the fourth country to demonstrate this technology after the US, Russia, and China.
  • The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the 52-satellite surveillance constellation under SBS Phase-III, moving away from large "exquisite" satellites toward smaller, mass-produced satellites (SmallSat proliferation) that are harder to target in conflict.
  • The architecture incorporates hybrid imaging: SAR for all-weather, day-and-night reconnaissance, and electro-optical sensors for high-resolution imaging.
  • India's defence space budget has grown from approximately Rs 4,000 crore (2019-20) to a planned Rs 27,000 crore investment for the surveillance constellation alone.

Connection to this news: The push for high-quality space cameras, both from ISRO and private companies like Azista Space, directly supports India's defence space modernization by enhancing the imaging capabilities needed for the 52-satellite surveillance constellation and broader space domain awareness.

India's Private Space Sector and IN-SPACe

India's private space sector was opened up following key reforms in 2020, including the establishment of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) and the Indian Space Policy, 2023. This has enabled companies like Azista Space to develop advanced space technologies.

  • IN-SPACe, established in 2020, serves as a single-window authorization and regulatory body for private space activities, facilitating access to ISRO facilities, providing technical guidance, and granting launch authorizations.
  • The Indian Space Policy, 2023 delineated the roles of ISRO (R&D), IN-SPACe (regulation and promotion), and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL, commercial arm) in the space ecosystem.
  • India's private space sector includes over 200 startups (as of 2025), with notable players like Skyroot Aerospace (first private launch, Vikram-S, November 2022), Agnikul Cosmos (3D-printed rocket engine), Pixxel (hyperspectral imaging), and Azista Space (SSA and Earth observation).
  • The Indian space economy was valued at approximately $8.4 billion in 2024, with a target of reaching $44 billion by 2033 under the Indian Space Policy.
  • ISRO's PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission (January 2024) carried private payloads, demonstrating the expanding public-private collaboration in India's space programme.

Connection to this news: Azista Space's ISS imaging achievement validates the IN-SPACe-led reform framework, demonstrating that India's private space companies can achieve world-class capabilities in strategically important domains like space situational awareness.

Key Facts & Data

  • Azista Space ISS imaging: February 3, 2026 (first by an Indian private space company).
  • Government investment in 52 surveillance satellites: Rs 27,000 crore ($3.2 billion) under SBS Phase-III.
  • First surveillance satellite launch expected: 2026.
  • Project NETRA telescope locations: Leh, Mount Abu, Ponmudi, and Northeast India.
  • NETRA detection capability: debris as small as 10 cm in LEO.
  • ISRO collision-avoidance manoeuvres: 19 (2021), up from 3 (2015).
  • Defence Space Agency established: 2019; Mission Shakti ASAT test: March 27, 2019.
  • India's private space startups: 200+ (as of 2025).
  • Indian space economy: ~$8.4 billion (2024); target $44 billion by 2033.
  • First ISSAR (Indian Space Situational Assessment Report): released 2024.