Gujarat Startup’s Thermal Camera TAPAS-1 to Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat is set to enter a new frontier of private space technology as an Ahmedabad-based startup’s thermal infrared camera prepares for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on October 1, potentially opening a new stream of satellite-generated heat data for agriculture, urban planning, disaster management and climate monitoring.

Developed by Satleo, TAPAS-1 is a three-kg Thermal Infrared Earth Observation Payload designed to detect heat and temperature variations on Earth that conventional satellite cameras cannot capture. The payload will be deployed at an orbit of around 500 km above Earth and is expected to remain operational for three years.

The company, founded in Ahmedabad in 2023 by Shravan Singh Bhati, Dr Ranendu Ghosh and Urmil Bakhai, developed the technology in Gujarat within 12 months. Singh has over 16 years of experience in satellite innovation, while Ghosh spent 27 years at ISRO working on satellite payload technologies related to agriculture, hydrology and soil science.

Explaining the technology, Satleo CEO Shravan Singh said TAPAS-1 would provide actionable heat intelligence across multiple sectors.

“This data can be used to monitor forest fires. Temperature variations across different areas of a city can also be tracked, helping municipal corporations plan measures to address heat stress,” Singh said.

Satleo Chief Strategy Officer Urmil Bakhai described the technology as a “thermometer for the Earth”, saying its applications could extend to crop planning and urban development.

“This technology can provide highly important data for agriculture and help make crop planning more modern and accurate. It can also be useful in urban planning, without requiring large-scale additional infrastructure,” Bakhai said.

The company said TAPAS-1 data will be processed using artificial intelligence and eventually provided to companies across sectors. Its applications could include monitoring agricultural and water stress, industrial activity, forest fires, urban heat and other environmental changes.

Satleo, which has a team of more than 40 professionals, plans to launch eight more satellites of a similar nature by 2029. The company has secured ₹60 crore in funding and claims to have Letters of Intent worth about $52 million, with around 60% reportedly coming from overseas companies.

The startup has also previously undertaken temperature mapping with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

The project comes as Gujarat implements its Spacetech Policy 2025-30, which provides incentives including support for launch costs, intellectual property and testing facilities. The policy aims to encourage private investment, startups and advanced space-technology manufacturing in the state.

With TAPAS-1, Gujarat’s emerging deep-tech ecosystem is moving beyond software towards specialised hardware, satellite systems and advanced Earth-observation technologies.