Pixxel launches India’s first private commercial satellite constellation 

Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based space technology company, has achieved a historic milestone by launching India’s first private satellite constellation, Firefly, designed to deliver the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral imaging capabilities. The launch of three satellites aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base marks the initiation of Pixxel’s commercial operations, placing India at the forefront of advanced Earth observation and climate action. The company has already signed up several clients from across the world.

Each Firefly satellite boasts a resolution of 5 meters, six times sharper than the industry standard of 30 meters for hyperspectral imaging. With the ability to capture data across more than 150 spectral bands, these satellites provide unmatched precision in detecting subtle changes in chemical compositions, vegetation health, water quality, and atmospheric conditions. The hyperspectral sensors unveil details that elude traditional observation systems, making them indispensable for addressing critical global challenges in agriculture, resource management, and climate action.

A Firefly satellite

Pixxel’s satellites feature a 40km swath width and a daily revisit capability, ensuring consistent monitoring of large areas without sacrificing detail. Positioned in a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 550 kilometers, the Firefly provides real-time insights into Earth’s ecosystems, forming a health monitor for the planet and enabling near-continuous coverage, offering governments, industries, and environmental agencies precise tools to address deforestation, ocean pollution resource degradation.

The launch of these satellites signals the first phase of Pixxel’s commercial constellation. Three additional Fireflies are slated for deployment in mid-2025, further enhancing global data collection and analysis.

Pixxel’s achievement also highlights India’s growing prominence in the global space ecosystem. As the first Indian-origin company to develop a commercial satellite constellation, Pixxel exemplifies the country’s innovation and technical prowess. The satellites, designed and developed locally, underscore India’s commitment to “Make in India” while demonstrating the transformative impact of the nation’s progressive space reforms.

This accomplishment builds on Pixxel’s earlier successes, including the launch of Shakuntala and Anand, India’s first private hyperspectral satellites, in 2022. These initial milestones had catalysed India’s private space sector, proving its capacity to deliver cutting-edge technology on a global scale. The Firefly constellation is the culmination of Pixxel’s vision to leverage advanced hyperspectral imaging for solving the planet’s most urgent challenges.

Pixxel is supported by $95 million in funding from investors including Google, Lightspeed, and Accenture. It has a very young team and is in fact one of the newest space tech startups in the country, founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal in 2019 when they were still students at BITS Pilani. The two saw a clear gap in  the satellite imaging market and wanted to offer the highest resolution.

The Firefly constellation will eventually have 24 satellites orbiting Earth. The name pays homage to the eponymous American sci-fi TV series, beloved for its themes of exploring uncharted territories and the resilience of a diverse crew navigating the vastness of space. Much like the show’s namesake—a glowing insect that illuminates the dark—the Firefly satellites are designed to shed light on hidden details of Earth, capturing data with unparalleled precision to reveal patterns and phenomena invisible to conventional observation.

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