Pixxel launches India’s first private hyperspectral satellite network
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Indian startup Pixxel is poised to make history by launching the country’s first private satellite network, deploying three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday (1:15 a.m. IST on Wednesday), the satellites will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 550 km. The remaining three satellites in the series are expected to launch in the second quarter of 2025.
Aiming to carve a niche in the growing satellite imaging sector, Pixxel plans to expand its Firefly constellation by adding 18 more satellites to its fleet. The global satellite imagery market, currently valued at $4.3 billion (₹37,219 crore), is projected to grow to $19 billion (₹1,64,457 crore) by 2029. Hyperspectral imaging, a cutting-edge technology that captures detailed data across hundreds of light bands, could contribute up to $1 billion (₹8,676 crore) to this growth.
Pixxel’s satellites are designed to serve industries like agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, and defense, offering capabilities to enhance crop yields, monitor resources, detect oil spills, and track borders. The company has already secured around 65 clients, including Rio Tinto, British Petroleum, and India’s Ministry of Agriculture, with contracts in place for future data access.
"Our hyperspectral technology has the potential to outperform current satellite imagery by delivering higher resolution and broader coverage," said Pixxel CEO and founder Awais Ahmed. The Firefly constellation features a 5-meter resolution and a 40-kilometer swathe width, surpassing competitors like Finland’s Kuva Space and Orbital Sidekick from San Francisco.
Pixxel anticipates establishing first contact with the satellites two-and-a-half hours after launch, with commercial imaging capabilities ready by mid-March. However, the company faces stiff competition in a global market dominated by the United States and China.
The US remains a leader in satellite launches, driven by private companies such as SpaceX and robust government contracts. Meanwhile, China has rapidly expanded its satellite capabilities through state-backed initiatives. India currently holds only a 2% share of the global commercial space market but is working to boost its space sector from $8 billion (₹69,258 crore) to $44 billion (₹3,80,976 crore) by 2030.
Narayan Prasad, Chief Operations Officer at Satsearch, highlighted the significance of Pixxel's achievement: "If successful, their hyperspectral imaging capacity will surpass ISRO’s, marking a transformative moment for India’s private space industry."