BENGALURU: Bengaluru-based space startup Pixxel, a provider of hyperspectral imaging and Earth observation services, has been awarded a contract by Nasa “as part of the agency’s $476 million Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program (CSDAP) On-Ramp1 Multiple Award”.
Under this multi-year contract, Pixxel will supply Nasa and its govt and academic partners with high-resolution hyperspectral data from its advanced satellite constellation.
The firm said Monday that its hyperspectral technology, capable of capturing data across hundreds of narrow wavelength bands, offers unique insights into critical environmental phenomena such as climate change, agriculture, biodiversity, and resource management
“Being selected for this prestigious Nasa contract is a significant milestone for Pixxel, validating our position as a key player in the space industry and the transformative potential of our hyperspectral technology. We are honoured to support NASA’s Earth observation initiatives and contribute to addressing pressing environmental challenges,” said Awais Ahmed, co-founder and CEO of Pixxel.
Pixxel’s upcoming Fireflies satellites, scheduled for launch soon, will be the highest-resolution hyperspectral satellites ever deployed, capturing data across 250+ spectral bands with a 40 km swath width and 24-hour global revisit frequency.
The company plans to expand its satellite constellation to 24 units, making hyperspectral data more broadly accessible to stakeholders across industries and governments.
“This contract represents a major step forward in leveraging commercial hyperspectral data to bolster Earth science research and environmental monitoring. We look forward to working closely with NASA to further its mission by providing this cutting-edge earth observation capability,” said Aakash Parekh, Pixxel’s chief commercial officer.