India can track and image enemy satellites in space. Hyderabad-based startup shows how

India’s growing space-monitoring capabilities received a boost this week as Hyderabad-based startup Azista Space announced that it had successfully captured detailed images of the International Space Station (ISS) from orbit using an Indian-built satellite sensor.

The company said the demonstration shows that India is steadily developing space situational awareness (SSA), the ability to track and monitor satellites and other objects in space to avoid collisions and improve security.

The imaging was carried out using Azista’s AFR sensor, an electro-optical camera system mounted on a satellite designed for non-Earth imaging (NEI), observing objects in space rather than photographing Earth’s surface.

According to the company, the International Space Station was tracked in two separate attempts on February 3, 2026, when the ISS appeared near the horizon from the satellite’s viewpoint.

The sensor captured the station at distances of about 300 kilometres and 245 kilometres, producing 15 images in total.

Despite the difficult conditions, including bright sunlight and fast orbital motion, the tracking system worked perfectly in both attempts.

The images achieved a sampling resolution of about 2.2 metres, meaning each pixel represents roughly that distance in real life. This level of detail is considered strong performance for imaging a fast-moving spacecraft from orbit and confirms the accuracy of the satellite’s tracking algorithms, which are computer systems that predict and follow the motion of objects in space.

Azista Space says this is likely the first time an Indian-built and operated satellite has successfully imaged the ISS in orbit, marking a milestone for the country’s private space sector.

Space situational awareness technology is becoming increasingly important as Earth’s orbit grows crowded with satellites, space debris, and commercial spacecraft.

Being able to detect, track, and identify objects in orbit helps prevent collisions and protects critical space infrastructure such as communication and navigation satellites.

The demonstration also highlights Azista Space’s capabilities in building electro-optical payloads, satellite systems, and image-processing software, all essential components for modern surveillance and monitoring satellites.

Industry experts say such technologies could support both civilian space-traffic management and national security applications, especially as India expands its satellite network and commercial launch activity.

By successfully imaging one of the largest human-made structures in orbit, Azista Space has shown that India’s private space industry is moving beyond Earth observation toward advanced orbital monitoring technologies, an area expected to play a crucial role in the future of space operations.