Bengaluru’s Pixxel launches world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellites

Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel successfully launched three high-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites recently from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Dubbed the Firefly constellation, the satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and deployed aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission.

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The launch, held at 1 a.m. IST, was live-streamed at Pixxel’s headquarters. Founder and CEO Awais Ahmed reportedly highlighted that the Firefly constellation offers six times the clarity of existing hyperspectral satellites, achieving a groundbreaking five-meter resolution. “This precision enables us to deliver more accurate climate and Earth data,” Ahmed said, emphasizing its capability to reveal fine details invisible to conventional systems.

Ahmed hailed the launch as a milestone for India, marking the country’s first commercial satellite constellation. With over 60 clients, including NASA and the governments of the U.S. and Australia, Pixxel is poised to make a global impact.

Co-founder and CTO Kshitij Khandelwal underscored the satellites’ cutting-edge technology, which captures data across 150+ spectral bands. This enables unmatched detection of chemical changes, vegetation health, water quality, and atmospheric conditions.

The Firefly constellation’s launch represents a significant step in advancing hyperspectral imaging technology, reinforcing India’s growing footprint in the global space industry.