In a momentous stride towards advancing space technology, Pixxel, the leading space data company, has officially inaugurated its spacecraft manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The company is on a mission to build a constellation of the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral earth imaging satellites, accompanied by sophisticated analytical tools designed to extract valuable insights from the collected data.
The constellation’s primary objective is to deliver daily global coverage, contributing to the detection, monitoring, and prediction of global phenomena across a spectrum of critical sectors including agriculture, mining, environment, and energy.
The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, who commended Pixxel for its remarkable contributions to the space sector. Acknowledging the challenges and resilience required in the space industry, Somanath emphasized Pixxel’s role in bringing satellite manufacturing technology to India.
Pixxel has already deployed three satellites since its inception, earning the trust of esteemed clients such as British Petroleum, the Ministry of Agriculture in India, and the US National Reconnaissance Office. The company specializes in hyperspectral imaging, capturing information across hundreds of spectral bands beyond the visible spectrum into the infrared. This capability allows Pixxel’s satellites to uncover insights that remain invisible to existing satellite sensors.
The Firefly constellation, set to launch by mid-2024, will comprise six satellites, with plans for an additional eighteen satellites by 2025. These advancements align with Pixxel’s overarching goal to create a comprehensive health monitor for the planet.
Awais Ahmed, CEO of Pixxel, expressed excitement about the new facility’s potential impact, stating, “The inauguration of the new facility will bolster our mission to build a health monitor for the planet. By increasing our capacity to build more satellites, we will deliver even more critical data to our customers faster so they can make informed decisions and address the needs of key industries such as agriculture, energy, forestry, and environmental monitoring.”
The cutting-edge facility, spanning over 30,000 sq ft, consolidates all satellite manufacturing services, offering a complete Spacecraft Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility. Equipped to handle over twenty satellites simultaneously, with a rapid turnaround time of six months, the facility is poised to have a total capacity of manufacturing forty large satellites annually.
Pixxel’s facility is designed with two modern clean rooms, labs for advanced camera integration, electronics R&D, electrical assembly, a mechanical workshop, a mission control room, and office space accommodating over 200 employees. This streamlined production process, from concept to launch, positions Pixxel at the forefront of satellite innovation, ensuring satellites are designed, manufactured, integrated, and rigorously tested before being transported to the launch site.
