ISRO chairman S Somanath inaugurated the facility in Bengaluru

Facility spanning over 30,000 sqft can handle 20 satellites simultaneously

Facility houses laboratories dedicated to advanced camera integration etc

Pixxel, a spacetech startup, officially opened its spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) facility in Bengaluru on January 15. During the inauguration, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman S Somanath drew parallels between the new facility and his early experiences working on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for ISRO many years ago.

Somanath emphasized the distinction between building satellites and establishing a business around them, noting that each satellite must be unique, and market demands evolve rapidly, often every three or four years.

Spanning over 30,000 sqft, the facility consolidates all satellite manufacturing services, offering a comprehensive production process from conceptualization to launch. Pixxel’s goal is to facilitate the design, manufacturing, integration, and testing of satellites for launch conditions within a single location before transporting them to the launch site.

As Pixxel approaches its fifth anniversary, the new facility represents a significant milestone in its mission to create a health monitoring system for the planet. By expanding its satellite manufacturing capacity, Pixxel aims to provide critical data to its customers more efficiently, enabling them to make informed decisions. This enhanced capability is particularly beneficial for key sectors such as agriculture, energy, forestry, and environmental monitoring.

The facility, operating at full capacity, can handle over 20 satellites simultaneously, with a turnaround time of approximately six months. Additionally, it houses laboratories dedicated to advanced camera integration, electronics research and development, and electrical assembly.