Eon Space Labs: Building Eyes in the Sky for India- by Ritwaj Ranjan, Space News Contributor – India, Interplanetary.tv – Photo credit: Eon Space Labs | Video credit: Drone TV.

As the world leans more heavily on satellites and aerial platforms for data, imaging, and communication, the demand for advanced optical payloads has never been greater. Rising to meet this challenge is Eon Space Labs, a cutting-edge aerospace startup founded by Punit Badeka, Manoj Kumar Gaddam, and Sanjay Kumar. Based in Hyderabad, the company is quietly revolutionizing the way we see the world from above—through powerful, indigenous imaging systems for satellites, drones, and high-altitude platforms.

Since its inception, Eon Space Labs has focused on the one aspect of space technology that often gets overlooked: what satellites carry. Their high-performance optical payloads are engineered to deliver sharp, high-resolution images that power everything from urban planning and precision agriculture to defense surveillance and environmental monitoring.

Eon Space Labs Milestones:

*2019 – Company founded by Punit Badeka, Manoj Kumar Gaddam, and Sanjay Kumar.

*2021 – Developed first prototype of high-resolution satellite payload.

*2022 – Secured partnerships with drone manufacturers and academic institutions.

*2024 – Delivered operational payloads for LEO satellite missions and commercial drones.

Eon Space Labs’ Journey.

Founded in 2019, Eon Space Labs was born from a shared vision: to make India self-reliant in the development of optical and imaging payloads. With backgrounds spanning aerospace engineering, optics, and systems integration, the three co-founders pooled their expertise to address a clear gap in the Indian space ecosystem—dependency on imported payloads for critical imaging missions.

At a time when India’s private space sector was just beginning to gain momentum, Eon carved a niche by offering modular and scalable imaging solutions. From small CubeSats to large-scale Earth observation satellites, their payloads are designed to adapt across a variety of platforms, including drones and pseudo-satellites.

One of Eon’s major breakthroughs came when it began supplying optical payloads for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite missions. Their systems integrate visible, infrared, and multi-spectral sensors—offering sharp imaging capabilities with low latency and high endurance. These payloads are now being used for applications such as border monitoring, disaster assessment, and real-time mapping.

Eon Space Labs is also making inroads into the UAV and drone sector, providing ultra-light, high-efficiency camera systems that extend the intelligence-gathering capabilities of aerial vehicles. Their dual-use technology has found applications in both civilian and defense domains, making them a sought-after player in India’s fast-growing aero-optics industry.

The two main advanced imaging systems developed by Eon Space Labs are MIRA and ARGUS for high-resolution Earth observation and reconnaissance. MIRA is India’s first miniaturized high-resolution electro-optical payload, set to launch in 2025. It offers the highest resolution in a smallest form factor with a rugged optical payload design. It supports multi-spectral and thermal imaging capabilities ranging from 10m to 0.7m GSD, and provides ultra-high resolution imaging with up to 0.7-meter GSD in panchromatic mode. These systems are ideal for surveillance and precision agriculture applications.

With growing interest from ISRO, private satellite operators, and international partners, Eon Space Labs is poised to become a leader in payload manufacturing from the Global South. At a time when the world needs more eyes in the sky, Eon is ensuring those eyes are sharper, smarter, and proudly built in India.

Their vision is clear: to illuminate Earth from above—pixel by pixel, mission by mission.

— Ritwaj Ranjan

About the Author.

Ritwaj Ranjan is a full-stack web and mobile applications software engineer from Bangalore, India, and, space news contributor to Interplanetary Television. With a strong foundation in frontend and backend development technologies, he has worked at Othor.ai and Bhopal. He has designed and deployed over 20 user-centric interfaces with React.js, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction scores. Ranjan has also led a team in website development, resulting in a 40% increase in client customization efficiency.