Google-backed Indian space start-up company Pixxel has become the first Indian private company to launch its commercial satellite constellation named Firefly on board a Space X rocket on 14 January (15 January in India) 2025. The SpaceX rocket also carried the world’s first commercial satellite for surveillance of space objects orbiting the earth, made by an Indian space company, Digantara.

From where were the satellites launched?

Both the Pixxel and Digantara satellites were launched by Elon Musk's company SpaceX. The satellites were launched aboard the Transporter-12 rideshare mission of SpaceX onboard the Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States of America.

Firefly Constellation of Pixxel

Bengaluru-based Pixxel company is building the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation named Firefly constellation.

The Firefly constellation initially consists of six satellites which are to be launched in two phases. In the first phase, three satellites were launched on 14 January 2025 and the other three will be launched in the second quarter of this year.

The satellites will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit at roughly 550 km.

The company plans to send 18 more satellites in the future to complete its Firefly constellation.

When the company starts offering the service it will be the first private company in India to offer hyperspectral imaging satellite service to consumers. At present in India, only the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) offers this service.

Hyperspectral imaging satellites

Hyperspectral imaging satellites refer to the use of technology that captures highly detailed data of Earth across hundreds of light bands.

The Firefly satellite are world’s highest-resolution commercial-grade satellite with a 5-meter resolution. Satellites in this category normally have a 30-meter resolution.

The satellite captures data across over 150 spectral bands which enables the satellite to detect subtle changes in chemical compositions, vegetation health, water quality, and atmospheric conditions.

Customers of the Firefly constellation

The Firefly constellation will be beneficial for companies engaged in agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, and defence.

It could help in improving crop yields in India, tracking resources, monitor oil spills and geographic boundaries in much better detail than current technology allows.

Digantara’s SCOT Satellite

Bengaluru-based space startup company Digantara launched the world’s first commercial satellite for surveillance of space objects orbiting the Earth.

The satellite named Space Camera for Object Tracking (SCOT) aims to enhance space safety and optimize space traffic management.

SCOT satellite will be placed in the sun-synchronous orbit which will track objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The floating debris in space like man-made objects not in use (used satellites, rocket parts, etc) poses a significant challenge to safe space navigation.

The SCOT satellite will continuously monitor objects in the LEO orbit and issue alerts so that space navigation becomes safe.

The SCOT satellites are the world’s first commercial Space Situational Awareness satellite.