Gujarat startup’s thermal camera set for space launch aboard SpaceX Falcon 9

An Ahmedabad-based spacetech startup is set to take a significant step into the satellite technology sector as its homegrown thermal infrared camera is launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from the US on October 1.

Developed by Satleo, the three-kg TAPAS-1 payload is designed to detect heat patterns on Earth that conventional satellite cameras cannot capture. The company describes it as India’s first thermal infrared camera developed by a private company.

TAPAS-1 will be deployed on a satellite operating at an altitude of around 500 km. It will capture thermal infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface and convert the data into images showing variations in temperature and heat intensity across different locations.

The technology could have applications ranging from agriculture and water-stress monitoring to urban heat management, industrial surveillance, disaster response and forest-fire detection. The thermal data can also be combined with artificial intelligence to generate more detailed insights for specific use cases.

“Thermal data can be used to monitor forest fires. It can also help track temperature variations across different parts of a city in real time. Since different areas experience different levels of heat, this information can help municipal corporations plan measures to address heat stress,” Satleo CEO Shravan Singh said.

The Ahmedabad-based company was founded in 2023 by Singh, Dr Ranendu Ghosh and Urmil Bakhai. Singh has more than 16 years of experience in satellite-related innovations, while Ghosh spent 27 years at ISRO working on satellite payload technologies associated with agriculture, hydrology and soil science. Bakhai, Satleo’s Chief Strategy Officer, has more than 22 years of experience in corporate sales and leadership.

Bakhai said the technology could effectively work as a “thermometer for the Earth”, providing detailed information that can support agricultural planning and urban development without requiring extensive additional ground infrastructure.

TAPAS-1 was developed entirely at Satleo’s laboratory in Gujarat and is expected to remain in orbit for around three years. The startup currently has a team of more than 40 professionals and plans to deploy eight additional satellites based on the same technology by 2029.

Satleo has so far raised Rs 60 crore in funding. After the commercial launch, the company plans to offer thermal imaging data to organisations across multiple sectors.

The startup has already tested its technology through a pilot project with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, mapping temperature variations across different parts of the city.

According to Singh, Satleo has also received Letters of Intent worth around $52 million, with nearly 60 per cent of the commitments coming from companies outside India. Organisations in agriculture and other sectors are also working with the startup.

The launch comes as Gujarat seeks to strengthen its position as a hub for private space technology and satellite manufacturing. Under the Gujarat Spacetech Policy 2025-30, the state has announced incentives for startups and private investors, including assistance for launch costs, support for intellectual property rights and subsidies for testing facilities.

TAPAS-1 represents Satleo’s entry into specialised satellite hardware and thermal imaging, while also highlighting the growing role of private Indian companies in developing space-based technologies for applications on Earth.