NEW DELHI: In a major milestone for India’s private space sector, domestic aerospace company Azista Space has successfully demonstrated the country’s first in-orbit surveillance capability by capturing images of objects in space from another satellite.
The achievement, often referred to as “in-orbit snooping” or “space watch,” was accomplished using the company’s 80-kg Earth-observation satellite, ABA First Runner (AFR), which photographed the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting about 400 km above the Earth.
Tracking the ISS from Orbit
AFR was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-8 mission on June 13, 2023. The satellite has now completed nearly two and a half years in orbit.
In a post on X, Azista Space said it had “successfully executed a challenging near-horizon demonstration” by targeting the ISS under sunlit conditions at distances of about 250 km to 300 km.
“The AFR sensor was precisely tasked to track the ISS, capturing it in 15 distinct frames. Two independent attempts were conducted, both achieving 100% success,” the company said.
The images achieved a sampling resolution of 2.2 metres, validating the satellite’s tracking algorithms and imaging precision. According to the company, AFR is the only Indian-built and operated satellite to have demonstrated such a capability so far.
Strengthening Space Situational Awareness
India currently operates more than 50 satellites for communication, navigation, Earth observation, and surveillance. Protecting these assets requires continuous monitoring of nearby objects in orbit, especially during periods of geopolitical tension.
The successful imaging of the ISS marks an important step towards enhancing India’s space situational awareness (SSA)—the ability to monitor, track, and predict the movement of satellites, space debris, and natural objects in orbit. SSA is critical for preventing collisions and enabling timely avoidance manoeuvres.
Azista Space said its expertise in electro-optical payloads, image processing, and satellite bus engineering allows it to deliver end-to-end SSA solutions tailored to customer requirements.
Growing Role in India’s Space Ecosystem
The company operates a satellite and payload manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat, and is recognised as Asia’s first private satellite factory capable of producing up to 50 satellites annually.
Azista Space is involved in the design, development, manufacturing, and integration of satellites and space-borne systems, including customised subsystems and payloads. Its personnel have also contributed to more than a dozen missions of Indian Space Research Organisation.
A Strategic Milestone
Experts say the demonstration highlights the growing technological maturity of India’s private space industry and its increasing role in national security and space sustainability.
With indigenous in-orbit surveillance now proven, India is better positioned to safeguard its expanding satellite fleet and strengthen its presence in the rapidly evolving global space domain.
