Pixxel is an Indian space technology company that designs, builds, and operates a constellation of hyperspectral Earth observation satellites. The company aims to provide high-resolution hyperspectral imagery for applications in agriculture, mining, energy, environmental monitoring, and defence.
| Type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Space technology, Earth observation |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Founders | Awais Ahmed, Kshitij Khandelwal |
| Focus | Hyperspectral imaging satellites |
| Country | India |
Pixxel was founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, who began the venture while studying at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani. The company is headquartered in Bengaluru and also has a presence in the United States. Its core technology centres on hyperspectral sensors, which capture imagery across hundreds of narrow spectral bands, enabling more detailed material identification than conventional multispectral satellites.
Pixxel has launched a series of demonstration and commercial hyperspectral satellites in collaboration with international launch providers. Early technology demonstrators were followed by satellites in the company's commercial constellation, branded as the "Firefly" series. The constellation is intended to deliver frequent revisit imagery with broad spectral coverage for analytical use cases.
Pixxel has worked with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) within India's evolving private space framework. The company has also signed agreements with international agencies and commercial customers for the supply of hyperspectral data products.
Pixxel is among the prominent private space start-ups to emerge after the Government of India opened the space sector to private participation through reforms announced in 2020 and the establishment of IN-SPACe. It is regarded as one of the early Indian companies to attempt a globally competitive commercial Earth observation constellation, with a particular emphasis on hyperspectral data, a segment historically dominated by government missions.