Launch · Government, Defense & Space

Pixxel and Dhruva Space launch satellites on Falcon-9

By Startup Enthusiast · 26 August 2025

What they do

Pixxel builds hyperspectral satellites that capture detailed Earth images across many light bands

It launched three Firefly satellites on a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket alongside Dhruva Space's first commercial mission

The launch completes the first half of Pixxel's six-satellite constellation for daily global coverage

Indian space startups Pixxel Space and Dhruva Space launched satellites together on a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket on 27 August 2025.
Pixxel launched three Firefly hyperspectral satellites, completing the first phase of its planned six-satellite constellation.
Dhruva Space launched its first commercial mission, called LEAP-01, carrying payloads from two customer companies.
The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Each Firefly satellite weighs about 50 kg and captures over 135 spectral bands at 5-metre resolution with a 40-km swath.
The constellation orbits in sun-synchronous low Earth orbit at 550 km altitude, providing daily revisit capability.
Dhruva Space's LEAP-01 carried payloads from Australia-based Akula Tech and Esper Satellites.
Akula Tech's payload tests space-ready AI model optimisation for geospatial AI/ML models.

This launch marks a milestone for Indian private space companies using a foreign rocket for commercial missions.
Pixxel and Dhruva Space are part of a consortium that won a bid to build India's first homegrown Earth observation satellite network under the IN-SPACe PPP model.
Pixxel had already launched its first three Firefly satellites in January 2025.
The Falcon-9 also carried satellites from OHB Italia, Planet, and Exolaunch on the same mission.

Pixxel is a Bengaluru-based company that builds hyperspectral satellites for Earth imaging across many spectral bands.
Dhruva Space is a Hyderabad-based company that develops satellite infrastructure, platforms, and ground stations.
Pixxel's Firefly satellites capture >135 spectral bands at 5-metre resolution with a 40-km swath and daily revisit.
Dhruva Space's LEAP-01 carries payloads from Akula Tech (AI model optimisation) and Esper Satellites (hyperspectral imager with EarthTones API).

Pixxel plans to launch Honeybee satellites (SWIR band) to work alongside Fireflies for broader spectrum and faster revisit.
Pixxel and Dhruva Space are part of a consortium that won a bid to build India's first homegrown Earth observation satellite network under the IN-SPACe PPP model.