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Pixxel, Backed by Google, Launches First Three Satellites of Firefly Constellation.

Science and Technology | Dated: 18 Jan 2025

Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Pixxel, backed by Google, successfully launched the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation, marking India's first private satellite constellation.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The satellites were launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-12 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA. The second phase, with three more Firefly satellites, is scheduled for Q2 2025.
  • - The Firefly constellation features the world's highest-resolution commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites, with a resolution six times sharper than existing ones.
  • - The satellites, integrated by Exolaunch, have a resolution of 5 meters, far superior to the standard 30 meters, and can capture data across more than 150 spectral bands.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) These satellites enable precise monitoring of vegetation health, water quality, chemical compositions, and atmospheric conditions, making them vital for agriculture, climate monitoring, resource management, and environmental protection.
  • (ii) Operating at approximately 550 kilometers in a sun-synchronous orbit, the satellites cover a swathe width of 40 kilometers, with daily revisit capability, ensuring continuous monitoring of large areas.
  • (iii) Bengaluru-based aerospace company Digantara, backed by the Aditya Birla Group, launched its Space Camera for Object Tracking (SCOT) mission aboard the same SpaceX Transporter-12 mission, designed for detecting and tracking objects as small as 5 cm.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, which space technology startup, backed by Google, launched the first three satellites of the Firefly constellation?

Correct Answer: Pixxel

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Pixxel

  • Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) : Awais Ahmed
  • Headquarter : Mumbai