Insider Brief:
- Pixxel plans to launch six satellites in 2024 using rockets from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX.
- Earlier this year, Pixxel opened MegaPixxel, a 30,000-square-foot facility in Bangalore with production capacity for up to 40 large satellites annually.
- MegaPixxel will handle all stages of satellite development, from concept to launch for a future constellation that will support a variety of industries.
Pixxel, a space tech startup based in Bengaluru, reportedly plans to launch six satellites in 2024 using rockets from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX. Pixxel CEO Awais Ahmed announced this strategy, highlighting the use of SpaceX’s rideshare missions and ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The choice of launcher will depend on the readiness of the satellites and the availability of launch windows. Ahmed stated, “We are likely to have launches on both SpaceX and PSLV. However, this will depend on our satellite readiness and the launch schedules.”
Earlier this year, Pixxel opened a 30,000-square-foot facility in Bangalore, named MegaPixxel. At the inauguration, the company revealed plans to launch six hyperspectral imagery satellites. These satellites will form part of a larger constellation aimed at supporting industries such as agriculture, energy, forestry, and environmental monitoring. MegaPixxel will handle all stages of satellite development, from concept to launch.
MegaPixxel’s production capacity allows for up to 40 large satellites per year. Currently, Pixxel is working on nine satellites and plans to add more in the latter half of the year and into the next. Ahmed explained that SpaceX’s Transporter missions, which carry multiple small satellites, typically run on schedule but can face delays. Conversely, ISRO’s PSLV missions depend on the readiness of the primary satellite, which can cause postponements if the main payload is delayed. “If the primary satellite gets delayed, the entire launch has to be postponed. But if the SpaceX mission is ready earlier, we might go with that,” Ahmed noted.
Pixxel has already launched three satellites, including its Shakuntala (Technology Demonstrator-2) satellite in 2022 using SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket. The company’s latest launch occurred in November 2022.
Pixxel’s dual-launch strategy with ISRO and SpaceX aims to ensure timely deployments of their satellites, reinforcing their commitment to providing advanced hyperspectral imaging for a variety of critical applications.
Image credit: Pixxel
