Indian Space Startup Pixxel Secures NASA Contract to Enhance Earth Science Research
Indian Space Startup Pixxel Secures NASA Contract to Enhance Earth Science Research Indian space startup Pixxel has won a contract from NASA to help Earth science research with its advanced hyperspectral technology. Bengaluru-based Pixxel has thus become part of NASA’s $476-million commercial smallsat data acquisition program-the first-ever for an Indian startup since India opened up its space sector to private companies in 2020. Pixxel’s Co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed described the contract as a “monumental achievement.” He further emphasized that the endorsement not only confirms the leading role hyperspectral imaging will have to play in future space-based Earth observation but places Pixxel at the center of creating a complete health monitor for Earth. The contract continues up to November 2028, and includes the delivery of hyperspectral Earth observation data to NASA and its U.S. government and academic partners to augment NASA’s Earth science research and application effort...
