Why in news?
PixxelSpace India and its partners were selected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN‑SPACe) to design, build and operate the country’s first privately funded Earth observation satellite constellation. The public–private partnership aims to deliver high‑resolution imagery for both national needs and commercial applications.
Background
India’s remote sensing programme has traditionally been led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which operates a fleet of satellites for weather forecasting, agriculture and disaster management. Recent space reforms allow private companies to build and operate satellites under IN‑SPACe supervision. PixxelSpace, a Bengaluru start‑up founded in 2019, already launched demonstration hyperspectral satellites and has now been tasked with a larger constellation.
Key features of the project
- Consortium partners: The project brings together PixxelSpace (hyperspectral imaging), Piersight Space (synthetic aperture radar), SatSure Analytics (geospatial analytics) and Dhruva Space (satellite platforms). Their combined expertise covers sensors, data analysis and satellite manufacture.
- Constellation size: Twelve advanced satellites will be launched over the next five years. They will provide optical, hyperspectral and radar data, enabling high‑frequency imaging of any location on Earth.
- Applications: The satellites will support climate and environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, urban planning, marine surveillance, disaster response and national security. The data will be processed into ready‑to‑use geospatial intelligence for domestic and international clients.
- Investment and returns: An estimated ₹1,200 crore of private investment will fund the project. Revenues will come from selling data and value‑added services to governments and businesses worldwide.
Importance
The constellation marks a shift towards private participation in India’s space sector. It could reduce dependence on foreign imagery, support local start‑ups and generate export earnings. Collaboration with government agencies will also ensure that sensitive data remains under Indian jurisdiction.