Hyderabad-based deep-tech startup EON Space Labs has successfully completed thermo-vacuum testing of its indigenous MIRA lightweight space telescope, marking a major milestone for India’s space capability. The 502-gram telescope cleared NASA-grade standards for temperature stability, vacuum tolerance, and in-orbit operational reliability during tests conducted at an NABL-accredited facility in Ahmedabad. MIRA exhibited negligible outgassing and zero optical or structural drift under extreme thermal conditions from -20°C to +60°C and vacuum levels below 10⁻⁵ torr. This performance qualifies MIRA for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions with dual-use applications in strategic defense and commercial space sectors. The telescope is slated for a heritage space flight aboard an ISRO rocket in December 2025 with the satellite partner TakeMe2Space. The development symbolizes a leap in India’s self-reliance for high-precision electro-optical space imaging, enhancing strategic surveillance and strengthening indigenous technology capabilities amid growing regional space competition. Key actors include EON Space Labs founders and partners such as ISRO and strategic investors supporting advanced payload development.