• EON Space Labs’ mini space telescope MIRA passes NASA-standard thermo-vacuum tests
• The 502-gram telescope is now certified space-grade and ready for orbit in Dec 2025
• The milestone marks India’s first fully indigenously built compact space telescope

EON Space Labs, a Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup, has announced a major breakthrough with its miniaturized space telescope, MIRA, which has successfully completed thermo-vacuum testing as per NASA standards. The certification confirms that MIRA is ready for deployment in low Earth orbit and positions it as India’s first homegrown compact space telescope.

Built as an electro-optical payload for both strategic defense and commercial space missions, MIRA is designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space. During testing at an NABL accredited facility in Ahmedabad, the telescope was exposed to temperatures ranging from -20 degree C to +60 degree C and vacuum levels below 10⁻⁵ torr. EON Space Labs said MIRA demonstrated outstanding performance, showing no optical drift, structural instability, or notable outgassing.

Sanjay Kumar, Co-Founder of EON Space Labs, called the achievement a defining moment for India’s space hardware ecosystem, noting that such complex, high-precision imaging systems can now be developed and certified entirely within the country.

MIRA weighs just 502 grams, making it three to four times lighter than traditional space telescopes while still delivering high-resolution imagery. This lightweight design can sharply reduce payload costs, which typically run between USD 10,000 and USD 20,000 per kilogram.

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The telescope has also been integrated with a partner satellite’s high-performance onboard computer, where it successfully demonstrated autonomous imaging and telemetry during simulated orbit conditions. MIRA is scheduled to take flight on a satellite mission in December 2025.

EON Space Labs is simultaneously advancing its LUMIRA EO/IR imaging platforms for drones, UAVs, eVTOLs, and aircraft, strengthening its multi-domain, dual-use technology portfolio.