Pixxel is a space startup, it is a space data company collecting data on Earth and creating a range of applications for agriculture, energy, environment, government, and mining by its state-of-the-art constellation of hyperspectral earth imaging satellites having global coverage every 24 hours.
This start-up planning to launch a constellation of 24 hyperspectral imaging satellites in 2024 and 2025. It was founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal in 2019. It is based in Bengaluru, India.
The technology used by Pixxel
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a method that examines a broad spectrum of light, departing from the conventional approach of assigning basic colors (such as red, green, and blue) to individual pixels. Instead, the light reaching each pixel is dissected into numerous spectral bands, enhancing the amount of information obtained from the captured imagery.
These gathered spectra are employed to generate an image in such a manner that each pixel in the image encapsulates a comprehensive spectrum.
Pixxel’s Hyperspectral imaging satellites transmit data (images) in hundreds of different wavelengths to detect problems that are impossible to capture data in so detail by today’s satellites, also it will capture 50x more information as compared to conventional satellites, the constellation is structured to deliver worldwide coverage with a revisit interval of 24 hours.
Pixxel satellites embody high performance within a compact design. They are intelligent, lightweight, and technologically advanced iterations of contemporary satellites. These innovations not only decrease production and launch expenses but also broaden the scope of information acquisition.
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Constellation of Pixxel
Pixxel aims to send a group of 24 commercial hyperspectral imaging satellites into space by 2024-2025. The initial two satellites of the constellation, named Technology Demonstration-2 (TD-2, also known as Shakuntala) and Technology Demonstration-1 (TD-1, or Anand), were respectively launched on April 1 and November 26, 2022, with Space-X and ISRO.
The special camera on TD-1 and TD-2 captures 150 different types of light details and can distinguish objects with a resolution of 10 meters. For the upcoming satellites in the group, the camera is upgraded to capture 300 types of light details and can identify objects with even more clarity at a resolution of 5 meters.
Anand circles the Earth at an altitude of 510 km, while Shakuntala orbits slightly lower at 480 km. Both satellites complete one orbit in about 94 minutes, and they share a similar inclination of 97°.
Both TD satellites weigh about 15 kg each, but they’re built on different spacecraft platforms. Shakuntala uses a 6U CubeSat design, while Anand employs a different platform that is not specified. The TD satellites are designed to operate for three years. In contrast, the upcoming satellites set to join the group will be larger, weighing 40 kg, and are designed to function for seven years.
Solutions by Pixxel
Pixxel has the most advanced satellites in the world, these satellites collect data on Earth and this data has many civilian applications in the fields of Agriculture, Energy, Mining, Environment, and Government.
(1) Agriculture
- Monitor and detect crop health and improve yield
- Indefify crop nutrient deficiency
- Forecast pest infestation and identify crop diseases become serious issues.
(2) Energy
- Identify and map prospective sites for wind, solar, and other unconventional energy sources..
- Identify hydrocarbon reserves for exploration.
(3) Mining
- Survey extensive land areas to refine the search zone for valuable minerals.
- Acquire precise mineralogical data from hard-to-reach locations.
- Map dunes to identify extensive ore reserves.
(4) Environment
- Monitor and map forest cover and deforestation.
- Measure natural disaster potentials like flooding, famine, and wildfire.
- Monitor water resources
- Maintain ecological sustainability.
(5) Government
- Monitor the progress of construction.
- Monitor conditions of roadways, railway tracks, and inland waterways.
- Take measures and mitigate natural disasters.
Team of Pixxel
The team of Pixxel has the expertise of engineers, researchers, designers, project managers, and sales. The CEO is Awais Ahmed, the CTO is Kshitij Khandelwal, and the Chief Science Officer is Eiji Yafuso.
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Who is the owner of Pixxel
Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal are the founders of Pixxel
