Pixxel Space has achieved a significant milestone by securing a NASA contract, providing hyperspectral Earth observation data to aid in critical research and environmental monitoring. By winning this contract, the Bangalore-based Pixxel has become the first Indian startup to secure a contract with NASA under the agency’s $467 million Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program. This contract will be active until 2028.
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More About Pixxel Space
Pixxel was founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal in 2019 while they were studying at BITS Pilani. Pixxel is a space data company building a constellation of hyperspectral Earth imaging satellites and the analytical tools to derive insights from that data. The constellation is designed to provide global coverage every 24 hours, with the aim of detecting, monitoring, and predicting global phenomena. From realizing India’s first Hyperloop pod to building some of the world’s most advanced satellites and missiles, and even constructing landers and rovers for the moon, the team at Pixxel has consistently pushed the boundaries of human exploration.
In 2023, the company was named one of TIME’s 100 Best Inventions in the Sustainability category, and it was recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2024. Pixxel was Asia’s only space startup to qualify for the 2019 Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator in Los Angeles. Pixxel’s mission is to build a “health monitor for the planet,” and now it has achieved the remarkable milestone of becoming the first Indian startup to secure a NASA contract.
This enormous achievement symbolizes the enhanced capacity of India in space technology and showcases the country’s growing capabilities in both space technology and data services.
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What is the Contract?
Through this agreement, NASA will have the authority to use Pixxel’s hyperspectral data to support its Earth observation initiatives. NASA, the global leader in space technology, continually explores new pathways in space exploration and Earth monitoring. When such a prominent agency collaborates with an Indian startup like Pixxel, it demonstrates how far India has progressed in the field of space technology. This contract is a significant milestone, showcasing India’s growth and capabilities.
It’s not just a monumental achievement for Pixxel but also for the Indian private space sector. NASA’s Earth science research includes collaborations with giants like Planet Labs, ICEYE, and BlackSky. Through this contract, Pixxel has now been added to this elite group of companies, marking a turning point in the company’s further achievements and initiatives.
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Hyperspectral Imaging
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is an advanced technology that captures data across the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike traditional imaging, which only collects information in the visible light range (red, green, and blue), hyperspectral imaging divides the spectrum into hundreds of narrow bands. Each pixel in a hyperspectral image contains detailed information about how different wavelengths of light are absorbed, reflected, or emitted by objects. This ability to capture a rich dataset across a wide spectrum has opened new frontiers in fields like agriculture, environmental monitoring, mineral exploration, defense, and even healthcare.
Pixxel is building a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites that provide 5-meter resolution and capture up to 50 times more data than conventional satellites across over 250 VNIR (Visible and Near Infrared) and SWIR (Shortwave Infrared) bands. Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging sensors capture and analyze images across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, including wavelengths invisible to the naked eye and beyond the capabilities of multispectral imaging sensors. While traditional multispectral imaging satellites capture only a few broad and discrete bands, Pixxel’s technology offers a detailed and unique ‘spectral fingerprint’ (or spectral signature) of Earth’s objects, materials, and conditions, enabling precise identification and monitoring.
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This technology has made Pixxel the first Indian startup to win a NASA contract, contributing to the company’s ultimate goal of creating a “health monitor for the Earth.”
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