KaleidEO Space Systems, a Bengaluru-based startup and subsidiary of SatSure, has successfully conducted aerial testing of its high-performance optical and multi-spectral earth observation payload. This achievement makes KaleidEO one of the first private Indian companies to design and develop a high-resolution optical EO payload.

The prototype payload was tested aboard an aircraft over the UK and Austria in collaboration with the Global Assistant & Logistic Group. The test aimed to assess the payload’s functionality and stability in a real-world environment. The payload captured images in five bands (red, blue, green, near-infrared, and red edge) at a spatial resolution of 16 cm.

KaleidEO’s satellite version of this payload is expected to capture images globally at a 1-meter resolution and 65 km swath, which could be disruptive due to the scale and quality of data collection for various applications, including agriculture, urban planning, critical infrastructure asset monitoring, and the government’s strategic planning needs.

The payload employs motion compensation and pixel shift methodology for super-resolving captured images, similar to the technique popularised by smartphones but applied to imaging moving objects at speeds of 7 km/s from orbit.

Akash Yalgach, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at KaleidEO, expressed his excitement about the successful test. He stated that it has given the team confidence for their planned 4-satellite fleet mission in 2026. He hopes their efforts will bolster Earth-imaging capabilities and open doors for the era of space-based innovation from India.

KaleidEO’s founding team comprised young ex-ISRO scientists and was set up by deep tech firm SatSure, which closed a Series A round of $15 million in equity capital last year. SatSure counts HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, ADB Ventures, and Transunion among its strategic investors and would be an anchor-tenant customer for KaleidEO’s fleet of hi-resolution satellite imagery.

Prateep Basu, Founder & CEO of SatSure & KaleidEO, commented on the feat, stating that high-quality, affordable satellite imagery is still a myth, but KaleidEO aims to break barriers by democratising access to such data for users in India and other developing countries through cutting-edge hardware innovation.