Indian space-tech startup Pixxel launches ‘Shakuntala’ satellite with Elon Musk’s SpaceX

It sets the stage for Pixxel`s first commercial phase satellites, to be launched in early 2023

April 2, 2022

Pixxel successfully launches its first fully-fledged commercial satellite with SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket

Spacetech startup Pixxel has successfully launched its first fully-fledged commercial satellite called `Shakuntala` with Elon Musk-run SpaceX`s Falcon-9 rocket. Shakuntala will begin amassing information and uncovering the invisible changes wreaking havoc on our planet like natural gas leakages, deforestation, melting ice caps, pollution, and declining crop health.

Launched on Friday aboard SpaceX`s Transporter-4 mission from Cape Canaveral in the US, this launch puts the company within touching distance of its ambitious mission to assemble one of the world`s most advanced constellations of low-earth-orbit imaging satellites.

Weighing less than 15 kg, Shakuntala (TD-2) is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of colour from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10-meters per pixel, far exceeding the specificity of 30-meter per pixel hyperspectral satellites launched by a few select organizations such NASA, ESA, and ISRO.

A statement from the company said, “Being Pixxel`s first fully-fledged satellite, `Shakuntala` hosts one of the highest resolution hyperspectral commercial cameras ever flown to space, bringing it one step closer to building a 24×7 health monitor for the planet.”

Awais Ahmed, CEO of Pixxel said, “From being one of the very few finalists in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition in 2017 to now launching our own satellites as part of SpaceX’s fourth dedicated rideshare mission, life has come full-circle for us.”

PGurus is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with all the latest news and views

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.