Pixxel, Digantara Launch Satellites Aboard SpaceX Rocket

SUMMARY

Pixxel deployed the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation, which is notable for being India's first private satellite constellation

Alongside Pixxel, Digantara launched its Space Camera for Object Tracking (SCOT) satellite

It was earlier reported by Inc42 that three spacetech startups including Pixxel, Digantara and XDLINX – will also be reportedly launching their satellites aboard the same rocket

Bengaluru-based spacetech startups Pixxel

and Digantara have launched their satellites aboard Transporter-12 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Pixxel deployed the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation, which is notable for being India’s first private satellite constellation. These satellites are equipped with hyperspectral imaging technology, offering a resolution of five metres and covering over 150 spectral bands.

Alongside Pixxel, Digantara launched its Space Camera for Object Tracking (SCOT) satellite. This satellite is designed for space surveillance, capable of tracking objects as small as 5 cm in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

It was earlier reported by Inc42 that three spacetech startups including Pixxel, Digantara and XDLINX – will also be reportedly launching their satellites aboard the same rocket.

The launch of these satellites marks an important milestone for India’s burgeoning spacetech industry, as this will be the launch of the country’s first private satellite constellation.

Earlier in June 2023, Pixxel’s founder and CEO Awais Ahmed told Inc42 that Firefly is a 24-satellite constellation, of which, the first six would be launched in 2024. However, due to various reasons, the launch was delayed.

Founded in 2018 by Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, Pixxel is building a constellation of hyperspectral earth satellites to offer imaging services to clients in sectors such as agriculture, mining, and environment, among others.

Backed by the likes of Google, Radical Ventures, Accenture, Lightspeed, Blume Ventures and growX, Pixxel has raised around $97.98 Mn in funding to date. Last year, it completed a total raise a total of $60 (around INR 203.48 Cr) in its Series B funding round.

Founded in 2018 by Anirudh Sharma, Rahul Rawat and Tanveer Ahmed, Digantara is building an end-to-end space operations infrastructure that plans to support stakeholders across the entire value chain and life cycle of a spacecraft mission.

The startup has its own space debris detector as its flagship offering and it aims to create a constellation of satellites to track objects as small as 1 cm.

Today’s launch came against the backdrop of the Indian spacetech ecosystem witnessing significant growth in the past few years led by the government’s push and substantive capital infusion by VCs.

This has spawned the rise of homegrown players such as Agnikul, Bellatrix, Pixxel, and Skyroot across various levels of the space value chain. As per Inc42, the Indian spacetech sector is estimated to reach a market size of $77 Bn by 2030.

However, according to Indian Startup Funding Report 2024, total funding raised by Indian spacetech startups fell 35% YoY to $81 Mn last year, even as the number of deals rose from 11 in 2023 to 14 in 2024.