Bengaluru-based space startup Pixxel has secured a multi-crore rupee grant from the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the Mission DefSpace Challenge under iDEX Prime (Space), to manufacture miniaturized multi-payload satellites for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
This marks Pixxel’s entry into the defence sector.
Received as a part of the SPARK grants by iDEX, this grant will equip Pixxel to develop small satellites of up to 150 kgs.
Besides, these satellites will be designed for electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, and hyperspectral purposes.
About Mission DefSpace
Mission DefSpace was launched with 75 Defence Space challenges which are classified into five categories: launch system, satellite system, communication and payload system, ground system, and software system.
About Pixxel
Pixxel is a space data company, building a constellation of hyperspectral earth imaging satellites and the analytical tools to mine insights from that data.
The constellation is designed to provide global coverage every 24 hours, with the aim of detecting, monitoring and predicting global phenomena.
Founded in 2019 by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, the company has successfully launched commercial hyperspectral imaging satellites that provide earth-imaging services to customers, including the US’ National Reconnaissance Office.
