A Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup is preparing to hit a major milestone in India’s fast-growing private space sector, as it readies the launch of its advanced Earth observation payload aboard an Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) rocket later this month.
Eon Space Labs will send its multispectral imaging payload, MIRA, into orbit on ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission, scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026, at 10:17 a.m. local time. The launch will take place from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
MIRA will fly as part of MOI-1, a 14-kilogram CubeSat developed by another Hyderabad-based startup, TakeMe2Space. Together, the mission aims to demonstrate what the companies describe as India’s first AI-powered orbital image laboratories, capable of processing Earth observation data directly in space rather than relying on costly and time-consuming downlinks to ground stations.
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At the core of the mission is MIRA, an ultra-light optical payload developed entirely in India. The system is carved from a single block of fused silica, a design approach intended to improve stability, minimize vibration-related distortions, and deliver high-quality imagery in a compact form. Integrated with MOI-1’s onboard computing systems, the payload allows AI models to analyze images while the satellite is still in orbit.
“The launch of MIRA aboard MOI-1 represents a shift in how Earth observation missions are designed and utilized. Instead of merely capturing images and sending raw data back to Earth, this mission enables satellites to generate insights in orbit. This has far-reaching implications for cost, speed, and accessibility of space-based intelligence,” said Sanjay Kumar, co-founder of Eon Space Labs.
Certified to NASA space-grade standards, MIRA is optimized for size, weight, and power efficiency. The payload measures just 54 × 54 × 87 mm, weighs 502 grams, and supports multispectral imaging across nine bands. With a ground sampling distance of 9.2 meters and a swath width of 18.7 kilometers, the system is designed for a wide range of Earth observation applications, from environmental monitoring to urban analysis.
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MOI-1 itself is positioned as an open AI laboratory in low Earth orbit, allowing developers and organizations to deploy and test AI models without owning or operating a satellite. By processing data onboard, the CubeSat sends back analyzed, actionable information rather than massive volumes of raw imagery.
“MOI-1 is built to democratize access to space-based data intelligence. With the help of EON Space Labs’ imaging payload integrated with our in-orbit compute platform, developers and organizations can run AI workloads in space without the need of owning or operating a satellite,” said Ronak Samantray, founder of TakeMe2Space.
The PSLV-C62 mission is a multi-payload launch that also includes EOS-N1 (Anvesha), an advanced Earth observation satellite, along with several technology demonstration payloads. The mission highlights ISRO’s continued push to support India’s NewSpace ecosystem and private-sector innovation.
Founded in Hyderabad by Sanjay Kumar, Punit Badeka, and Manoj Kumar Gaddam, Eon Space Labs focuses on the design and manufacture of advanced electro-optical imaging systems for space, aerial, and ground-based platforms. The upcoming PSLV-C62 launch will mark the company’s first in-orbit demonstration of its MIRA payload in low Earth orbit.