NEW DELHI: Highlighting the rapid growth of India’s private space sector, three indigenous startups—Bengaluru-based Digantara and Pixxel, along with Hyderabad-based XDLINX Spacelabs—are set to launch satellites aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission.
The launch is scheduled to take place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, at approximately 10:45 AM Pacific Time (early Wednesday morning in India), pending final approvals.
Startup Missions
- Pixxel will deploy the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of roughly 550 km. Three additional satellites are planned for launch in the second quarter of this year.
- Once operational, the Firefly constellation aims to empower industries and governments with actionable insights for addressing global challenges, advancing climate initiatives, and supporting informed decision-making.
- Equipped with sensors six times sharper than the 30-meter standard of most hyperspectral satellites, Pixxel’s Fireflies boast the world’s most advanced commercial hyperspectral imaging system, capable of detecting hidden patterns and anomalies with unmatched precision.
- Applications range from environmental monitoring and resource management to agriculture and mining, leveraging capabilities to detect subtle changes in vegetation, water bodies, and mineral deposits. Pixxel plans to expand the constellation to 24 satellites, targeting a share in the satellite imaging market, projected to reach $19 billion by 2029.
- Digantara is launching SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking), its first space surveillance satellite, designed to revolutionize Space Situational Awareness (SSA).
- SCOT can track objects as small as 5 cm in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), offering superior monitoring capabilities compared to traditional ground-based systems, which are often limited by weather and geography.
- This innovative system is set to transform space traffic management and enhance the safety of orbital operations.
- XDLINX Spacelabs is sending satellites developed in India for the US-based Almagest Space Corporation, showcasing the increasing global collaboration in the Indian space ecosystem.
These launches underscore India’s growing prowess in space technology, with its private sector playing a vital role in shaping the future of global space exploration and innovation.
