Samastipur: Sanjay Kumar, an engineer who grew up in the railway colony of Samastipur, has made a mark in space technology with Meera, a lightweight multispectral imaging camera weighing just 502 grams.
Developed under his leadership by Hyderabad-based deep-tech company EON Space Labs, the camera has been sent into space to capture images and data of Earth. Its potential applications include agriculture, environmental monitoring, natural-resource assessment and disaster management.
502-Gram Camera Designed to Capture Nine Spectral Bands
According to the report, Meera was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-18 mission. It was integrated with TakeMe2 Space’s MOI-1A orbital satellite.
The camera has been designed to remain lightweight while withstanding the demanding conditions of launch and operation in space, including strong vibrations during liftoff.
Its key feature is its ability to collect Earth-observation imagery and data across nine spectral bands. Unlike conventional photographs, multispectral imaging captures information at different wavelengths, helping researchers examine characteristics of the Earth’s surface that may not be visible to the naked eye.
How Meera Could Help Agriculture and Disaster Management
The data collected by Meera could support agricultural monitoring by helping assess crop conditions, vegetation health and changes in land moisture.
The technology may also assist in monitoring natural resources, studying forests and tracking environmental changes. Following natural disasters, Earth-observation data can help assess affected areas and support planning and response efforts.
The practical value of the information will depend on the imagery collected and how the data is processed and used by researchers and relevant agencies.
EON Space Labs Also Working on Defence Technology
Kumar and his team are also working on advanced surveillance equipment for the Indian Navy, according to the report.
EON Space Labs was selected by IIT Madras for Bharat Innovates 2026, through which the company represented Indian deep-tech and aerospace technology in Paris, France.
The selection provided an opportunity to showcase the company’s work in optical systems and aerospace technology.
From Samastipur Railway Colony to IIT Madras
Kumar spent his childhood in Samastipur’s railway colony. His father, Shiv Bachan Mandal, worked at the Divisional Railway Manager’s office.
He completed his early education at Central Public School in Samastipur, passing his secondary examination in 2006 and higher secondary examination in 2008. He later moved to Kota to prepare for the IIT entrance examination.
Kumar went on to earn a BTech degree in avionics from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram. He subsequently completed a postgraduate degree in optics and photonics at IIT Madras.
More Than Eight Years of Research in Advanced Optics
After completing his studies, Kumar worked with institutions in India and abroad on advanced optics and imaging technologies.
According to the report, he spent more than eight years conducting research in adaptive optics at institutions associated with the L V Prasad Eye Institute and the University of Rochester Medical Center in the United States.
His experience in optical research and imaging systems has informed his work in developing specialised camera technology.
EON Space Labs Founded in 2022
Kumar co-founded EON Space Labs in Hyderabad in 2022 with Puneet Badeka of Ujjain and Manoj Kumar Gaddam.
As the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer, he leads the design and development of optical systems.
The development of Meera highlights the work of an Indian deep-tech startup in space imaging and adds a Samastipur connection to the country’s growing aerospace ecosystem.
