The satellite was propelled into the atmosphere aboard the SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket on April 1. The satellite will help the startup in curating datasets that will enable Pixxel to monitor and predict global occurrences in real-time The launch comes barely days after the startup raised $25 Mn in funding led by Canada-based Radical Ventures. FOLLOW US 31st October, 2024 Essentially, data gathered from Pixxel’s satellites can be used to gain “actionable insights” for many domains by governments and firms alike. The startup has so far raised $33 Mn in funding from investors. Prior to the $25 Mn fundraise, the startup had also raised $7.3 Mn in March last year in a funding round led by VC firms that included Blume Ventures, growX ventures and Lightspeed India. The ‘Shakuntala’ The satellite weighs less than 15 kilograms and is capable of capturing orbital images with a resolution of 10 metres per pixel. The satellite is also capable of capturing up to 150 bands of colour from the visible and infrared spectrum. Shakuntala will begin relaying information back to earth within a few weeks of launch. The startup claims that its 10-metre hyperspectral imaging satellite ‘far exceeds’ the specificity of 30-metre per pixel hyperspectral satellites launched by organisations such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency. With this complete, the startup is now looking to kick off its second phase of expansion which will involve the launch of six new satellites by early 2023. The new satellites will be launched into the sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 550 kilometres. Pixxel claims to have more than 50 clients that have signed pre-launch agreements with the startup. The space sector is witnessing rapid liberalisation under the current government. This was visible when the government allocated INR 13.7K Cr in Budget 2022