In a significant milestone for space technology, the Indian start-up Digantara has successfully launched the world’s first commercial space-based surveillance satellite, named Space Camera for Object Tracking, or SCOT. Aimed at mapping debris as small as 5 cm in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), SCOT has the potential to revolutionize how satellites, research vessels, and even future space tourists navigate the increasingly crowded near-Earth space.
This milestone is particularly striking given the age of its founders—Anirudh Sharma, Tanveer Ahmed, and Rahul Rawat, all just 26 years old. They launched SCOT aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission in January 2025, with the satellite relaying its first images back to Earth on March 8, 2025. In those images, the satellite showcased its capability to scan and map space debris, a crucial function as the world’s orbital space is becoming more congested than ever.
Sharma, who serves as the chief executive officer of Digantara, encapsulated the importance of the project by stating, “This is a giant leap.” The satellite weighs about 25 kg, approximately the size of a shoebox, and aims to provide crucial data for a variety of clients including government agencies and private companies involved in space ventures.
Before Digantara, tracking space objects relied heavily on ground-based systems, like the Indian Space Research Organisation’s NETRA, which monitors objects possibly threatening India’s space assets. Digantara aims to offer an enhanced level of detail by tracking objects in orbit through their space-based surveillance system, likened to creating “a Google Maps for Near-Earth Objects,” according to Sharma.
The scale of the problem they are tackling is immense: according to the European Space Agency (ESA), there are over 39,000 tracked space objects, including 11,000 active payloads. An estimated 40,500 pieces of debris are larger than 10 cm, while objects above 1 cm exceed a staggering one million.
Ahmed, the chief technical officer, shared the emotional toll leading up to the launch, recalling the stress levels that escalated within the team as they awaited the confirmation that SCOT was operational. “I don’t really think I slept for a good 48 hours before we got our first signal,” he chuckled, marking the event as a defining moment for the team.
The trio's connection to space surveillance is deeply personal. In 2018, a piece of debris collided with a satellite they were involved in developing. Ahmed remarked, “Its loss highlighted the need for space situational awareness.” This experience spurred their interest and ultimately led to the founding of Digantara.
The company was officially registered when they were just 19 years old. Though they started in a terrace office with minimal resources—a few plastic chairs and a vision—the firm has since grown impressively, now employing around 100 staff and operating from a 25,000-square-foot facility in Bengaluru.
To further scale its impact, Digantara is currently seeking funding to launch 15 more satellites like SCOT over the next two years. This will vastly improve the volume of real-time data they can gather, providing a continuously updated map of LEO.
While the dream of many of their childhoods revolved around being astronauts and fighter pilots, they have embraced entrepreneurship and technological innovation instead. Sharma recounted a humorous moment: “Like every Indian parent, my father didn’t hesitate to remind me that I could have been at Stanford already had I sat for the GRE.”
Their diverse educational backgrounds in computer science and aerospace engineering have collectively fueled their ambition to lead in this new frontier of space technology. Ahmed, recalling his decision to pursue aerospace engineering after not gaining admission to the National Defence Academy, expressed how his chosen field now allows him to contribute significantly to the global narrative on space exploration and safety.
The founders' innovative approach encompasses a motto of “celebrate failure and fail fast.” Sharma stated, “We’ve made mistakes, learned along the way, built the right technology at the right time. I’d say that’s the lesson: Fail early and learn fast.” Over five years, they have successfully raised $14.5 million in funding, allowing them to invest in their vision and expand their capabilities.
As the demand for space traffic management increases, Digantara is well-positioned to usher in a new era of safety and monitoring. By improving tracking capabilities in LEO, they not only protect vital space assets but also contribute to a sustainable future for space operations. With the continued growth of the space sector, companies like Digantara will play key roles in shaping a world where space is not just a frontier for exploration but also a safe domain for commercial enterprise.
In short, with initiatives like SCOT, the co-founders of Digantara are making a remarkable contribution to the field of space technology while achieving personal dreams and aspirations in the process.
