In a significant breakthrough for India's space technology sector, Hyderabad-based deeptech startup EON Space Labs has successfully completed critical thermos-vacuum testing of its ultra-lightweight electro-optical space telescope named MIRA. This achievement marks a historic moment as MIRA becomes India's first indigenously developed miniaturized space telescope to pass such rigorous qualification tests.
Mission Milestone: Passing Extreme Space Environment Tests
The successful testing qualifies the telescope for its inaugural flight scheduled aboard an upcoming heritage satellite orbit mission in December 2025. Weighing merely 502 grams, MIRA represents a remarkable feat of engineering miniaturization in space technology. Developed as an electro-optical payload that can be mounted on satellites, the telescope is designed for both strategic defence applications and commercial space missions.
According to company officials, the testing was conducted at a NABL-accredited laboratory in Ahmedabad, where MIRA demonstrated exceptional performance under simulated space conditions. The telescope successfully met NASA's stringent standards for space readiness, temperature stability, vacuum tolerance, and in-orbit operational reliability.
Technical Excellence: Withstanding Space's Harsh Reality
The thermos-vacuum testing subjected MIRA to extreme conditions that accurately replicate the challenging environment of space. The evaluation was conducted at vacuum levels below 10-5 torr with dramatic temperature fluctuations ranging from -20°C to +60°C. Throughout these rigorous tests, MIRA exhibited negligible outgassing and zero optical or structural drift, confirming its robustness and reliability for space operations.
This performance qualification makes MIRA fully prepared to handle the harsh conditions encountered during low Earth orbit (LEO) missions. The telescope's ability to maintain structural and optical integrity under such extreme thermal and vacuum conditions demonstrates the advanced engineering capabilities of the Hyderabad-based startup.
Strategic Implications for Indian Space Technology
The successful development and testing of MIRA positions India among the select group of nations capable of producing indigenous miniaturized space telescopes. This achievement has significant implications for both national security through strategic defence applications and the growing commercial space sector.
EON Space Labs' breakthrough comes at a time when India's space industry is experiencing rapid growth and innovation. The development of such sophisticated space technology by a private startup highlights the expanding capabilities of India's private space sector and its potential to contribute significantly to the global space economy.
With the December 2025 mission now on the horizon, the Indian space technology community eagerly anticipates MIRA's first operational deployment, which could open new possibilities for affordable and accessible space-based observation capabilities.
