Indian space-tech startups Pixxel, Digantara, and XDLINX Space Labs made history with the successful launch of their satellites. The launch took place on Wednesday aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission, which occurred at 1915 GMT (just after midnight in India), marked a major step forward for India’s growing private space sector.
Pixxel Launches India’s First Private Satellite Network
Pixxel made a significant achievement with the launch of its Firefly constellation, which includes three satellites. This constellation is India’s first private satellite network, offering the world’s highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral technology with a 5-meter resolution. This is six times sharper than the standard 30-meter resolution used by most existing satellites.
Pixxel’s CEO, Awais Ahmed, shared his excitement, calling it “a giant leap toward redefining how we use space technology to address the planet’s challenges.” The company plans to launch three more Firefly satellites in 2025.
Digantara’s SCOT Satellite Enhances Space Safety
Digantara also made strides in space safety with its SCOT satellite, launched aboard the same mission. SCOT is the world’s first commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellite. It is designed to track and monitor space debris and objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), helping improve space safety and operations.
The satellite is supported by Aditya Birla Ventures and SIDBI and aims to play a key role in national security.
XDLINX Space Labs Breaks New Ground with ELEVATION-1
XDLINX Space Labs, based in Hyderabad, launched its ELEVATION-1 satellite, India’s first Satcom E-band communications satellite. This satellite promises faster data transmission in space, with speeds reaching up to 10Gbps. According to Syed Ahmed, XDLINX’s payload scientist, the satellite worked perfectly and even sent a signal back to Earth within hours of separation.
India’s Growing Space Industry
These successful launches highlight the rapid growth of India’s private space sector. With Pixxel, Digantara, and XDLINX leading the way, India is making significant strides in space technology, with a growing role in global space operations. These startups are helping put India on the map as a key player in space research and satellite innovation.
In summary, the successful launch of these satellites is a big step for India’s private space sector, showing the country’s increasing presence in space technology and exploration.
