Indian Startup Pixxel Secures NASA Contract For Satellite Imaging

Pixxel, an Indian startup, awarded a $476 million long-term contract with NASA to provide hyperspectral satellite Earth observation data.

What Is Known About The Contract

Pixxel Space Technologies Inc., headquartered in Bangalore, India, and with an office in El Segundo, California (USA), has become the first Indian space technology startup to be awarded a contract by NASA.

Pixxel was among the eight companies the US space agency selected this year to collaborate under the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Programme (CSDA) for Earth science research and applications.

The winners include well-known space technology and satellite data companies – BlackSky Geospatial Solutions, ICEYE, Planet Labs Federal, MDA Geospatial Service and others,

The On-Ramp1 Multiple Award fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a total potential value across all contractors of $476 million. The period of performance under the contract runs until 15 November 2028.

Under the contract, Pixxel will provide NASA, the US government and academic partners hyperspectral data from its satellites.

Pixxel co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed called the contract a ‘monumental achievement’ for the startup. They said that Pixxel’s selection for this NASA contract ‘further validates that hyperspectral imaging will be an integral part of the future of space-based Earth observation and will allow us to create a health monitor for the planet truly.’

Advanced Satellites In Hyperspectral Imaging

Founded in 2018, Pixxel is building a constellation of hyperspectral Earth imaging satellites to detect, monitor and predict critical global phenomena in agriculture, mining and the environment.

The company plans to launch six Fireflies satellites shortly and aims to increase this number to 24 by 2025.

The satellites will weigh about 50kg each, significantly higher than the 15kg Shakuntala and Anand demonstration satellites launched by Pixxel in 2022.

They will have a resolution of 5 metres, the highest in the history of hyperspectral satellites. They will collect data at 250+ spectral wavelengths, with sensors covering a distance of up to 40 km.

Pixxel has also launched its in-house Earth Observation Studio, Aurora, to make satellite imagery analysis easily accessible and to provide actionable, real-time information to inform decision-making, improve natural resource management and enhance environmental sustainability.

Pixxel’s Achievements In The Space Sector

The company has successfully raised nearly $74 million in funding and is backed by Google, Lightspeed, Blume Ventures, Accenture and others.

In June this year, Pixxel signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defence to produce miniature satellites with multiple payloads for the Indian Air Force.