SUMMARY
- Pixxel, has secured NASA’s largest supplier agreement by an Indian business, joining a $476 million program to provide hyperspectral earth observation data until 2028.
- Hyperspectral technology will advance NASA’s earth science and environmental monitoring capabilities.
- The company plans to expand its satellite fleet for broader hyperspectral data access.
NASA has awarded the largest supplier agreement by an Indian business to Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based space technology startup that specializes in state-of-the-art hyperspectral earth-imaging technology. It is now a part of NASA’s commercial smallsat data collecting program, which is valued at $476 million. Since the industry became accessible to private businesses in 2020, this is the first transaction involving an Indian startup. The program’s contract is valid through November 2028.
Hyperspectral earth observation data will be made available by Pixxel to NASA, the US government, and academic partners. This will enhance the authority of the administration’s earth science application and research initiatives.
Pixxel’s databases, which can collect data at hundreds of tiny wavelengths, can provide fine-grained insights on various topics, including resource management, biodiversity, agriculture, and climate change. As the co-founder and CEO of Pixxel, Mr. Awais Ahmed states, “Being selected for this NASA contract is a monumental achievement for Pixxel. It further validates that hyperspectral imaging will be integral to the future of space-based earth observation and enable us to build a health monitor for the planet. We are deeply honored to support NASA’s earth observation initiatives. We will demonstrate the transformative potential of Pixxel’s hyperspectral technology in addressing critical environmental challenges.”
Additional firms involved in the transaction are Virginia-based BlackSky Geospatial Solutions, California-based ICEYE US, Canada-based MDA Geospatial Service, Virginia-based Planet Labs Federal, North Carolina-based Satellogic Federal, and Alabama-based Teledyne Brown Engineering. Building on this momentum, Pixxel’s impending launch of Fireflies, its 5-meter resolution hyperspectral satellites, will significantly advance the company’s goal. It will be the first hyperspectral satellite launched with the finest resolution ever.
“This contract represents a major step in leveraging commercial hyperspectral data to bolster earth science research and environmental monitoring. We are proud to foster further collaboration on hyperspectral data applications within the scientific community. And, we look forward to working with NASA to further its mission with this cutting-edge earth monitoring modality,” stated Aakash Parekh, chief commercial officer of Pixxel.
Pixxel intends to grow its constellation to 24 satellites in addition to the six that will soon launch, to provide hyperspectral data to a wider range of stakeholders, including governments and industries, on a commercial basis. It will get access to timely, useful insights as a result, enabling it to make better decisions, manage resources more effectively, and strengthen environmental resilience. Anand, Pixxel’s first hyperspectral satellite, was launched in December 2022.
