NASA has awarded a significant contract to Indian private spacecraft company Pixxel as part of its $476 million “Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Programme On-Ramp1 Multiple Award.” Pixxel, known for its expertise in hyperspectral imaging and Earth observation, is one of eight companies selected for this initiative, aimed at enhancing NASA’s Earth observation capabilities through commercial data sources.
The contract will enable Pixxel to supply Earth-observation data to support NASA’s research and applications that focus on improving life on Earth. NASA emphasized that the goal of the awards is to complement the agency’s Earth observations in a cost-effective manner, benefiting not only the US government but also international agencies.
Pixxel’s hyperspectral imaging technology captures data across hundreds of narrow wavelengths, providing detailed insights on environmental challenges such as climate change, agriculture, biodiversity, and resource management. Hyperspectral imaging goes beyond the visible spectrum (red, green, and blue) to capture light across hundreds of bands, allowing for the precise identification and analysis of materials and chemicals.
Pixxel co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed expressed his excitement, stating, “Being selected for this NASA contract is a monumental achievement for Pixxel and further validates that hyperspectral imaging will be integral to the future of space-based Earth observation and enable us to truly build a health monitor for the planet.”
In addition to the NASA contract, Pixxel plans to launch its Fireflies satellites, offering the highest-resolution hyperspectral imaging yet, with five-meter resolution. These satellites will capture data across more than 250 spectral bands, providing detailed coverage with a 40-kilometer swath width and a 24-hour revisit frequency anywhere on Earth.
Pixxel aims to expand its satellite constellation to 24, enhancing the availability of hyperspectral data for governments and industries. This data will help drive real-time decision-making, improve natural resource management, and bolster environmental resilience.
Aakash Parekh, Pixxel’s Chief Commercial Officer, called the contract a significant step forward, stating, “This contract represents a major step forward in leveraging commercial hyperspectral data to bolster Earth-science research and environmental monitoring.”
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