Pixxel, an Indian house tech startup, has efficiently launched the primary three hyperspectral satellites of its business constellation Firefly aboard a SpaceX rocket from California, marking a major milestone for the India’s rising house ambitions.
India is house to round 300 house startups and has gained worldwide consideration for latest developments, together with the profitable touchdown of its lunar spacecraft on the south pole, the launch of a coronagraphy spacecraft, and partnering with NASA to affix the Artemis Accords. Additional, India plans to launch its first human spacecraft mission subsequent yr, personal an area station by 2035, and ship an astronaut on a three-day moon mission by 2040.
The most recent launch is the beginning of business operations for Bengaluru-based Pixxel, and came about from the Vandenberg Area Drive Base Tuesday at round 10:45 a.m. PT below SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission. Hyperspectral satellites have gained recognition amongst house corporations as massive firms and governments search insights into deforestation, ocean air pollution, oil spills, and water high quality. Whereas drones can present some knowledge, satellites are typically simpler and environment friendly in most of those circumstances.
The three satellites are part of the five-year-old startup’s first commercialization part, which can embody three extra by Q2, and a complete of 18 to 24 satellites by 2026–2027, its chief mentioned in an interview hours earlier than the launch.
“It’s the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite tv for pc constellation and India’s first-ever non-public business constellation,” Pixxel co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed informed TechCrunch.
Pixxel constructed the Firefly satellites to supply hyperspectral imagery at a five-meter decision, overlaying a 40-kilometer (~25-mile) broad swath. The satellites can seize knowledge throughout over 150 spectral bands to detect delicate adjustments in chemical compositions, vegetation well being, water high quality, and atmospheric situations. Onboard narrowband sensors assist discover hidden patterns and anomalies, which will be useful for agricultural and local weather functions.
The startup has signed over 60 clients in the previous couple of years, together with the Indian agriculture ministry, British Petroleum, and NASA. Some are already getting hyperspectral imagery knowledge by way of demo satellites launched in 2021 and 2022, however the six satellites the startup goals to launch this yr will convey “much more knowledge than the demo satellites,” Ahmed mentioned.
“It’s like while you’re listening to a musical be aware, you perceive what keys it’s made up of, and people keys are what we try to select with hyperspectral knowledge,” Pixxel co-founder and CTO Kshitij Khandelwal informed TechCrunch.
The satellites will circumnavigate in a sun-synchronous orbit at round 342 miles. Whereas the primary three satellites will assist Pixxel start its business operations, they won’t present each day world protection, offering insights each two to 3 days as a substitute. Pixxel executives mentioned they should add three further satellites for each day protection.
The business satellites additionally embody native propulsion techniques to assist them keep in exact orbit for as much as seven years, versus a one-and-a-half to two-year lifetime on the demo satellites.
Startups corresponding to Esper, Orbital Sidekick, and Wyvern try to draw clients on this area. However Ahmed informed TechCrunch that Pixxel is up to now the one participant providing really five-meter hyperspectral satellites.
“A few of them are doing multispectral… however nonetheless in like eight wavelengths or so. With hyperspectral, we’re capable of do 150 wavelengths at 5 meters, and that’s what units us other than present gamers,” he mentioned.
On why Pixxel most popular a SpaceX rocket as a substitute of an Indian Area Analysis Group (ISRO) one, Ahmed mentioned it was simply the timing of the launch and orbital parameters.
Pixxel, which has up to now raised $95 million in funding, counts Accenture Ventures, Google, Lightspeed Enterprise Companions, and Radical Ventures amongst its key buyers.
Ahmed informed TechCrunch that past Google’s funding, Pixxel is exploring the way it can combine its hyperspectral satellite tv for pc insights with Google Earth and different Google services.
Final yr, India introduced a $116 million enterprise capital fund for house developments. The nation additionally launched a devoted house coverage and up to date its international direct funding coverage for abroad space-related investments to proceed increasing its world house trade footprint.
