Private Satellite Constellation in India Trace Roots Back to Vikram Sarabhai's Influence
In a significant stride for India's space industry, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) has selected a consortium led by PixxelSpace India to build and operate the country's first fully indigenous commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite constellation.
The consortium, which includes PixxelSpace India Pvt. Ltd., PierSight Space, Satsure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space, won a ₹1,200 crore (over $143 million) contract in August 2025 to design, build, own, and operate a national EO constellation under a public-private partnership (PPP) program.
The project involves deploying a 12-satellite network over the next four to five years, with all satellites to be manufactured domestically, launched on Indian rockets, and controlled from within India. The constellation will feature a mix of sub-metre very high-resolution, multispectral, hyperspectral, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and panchromatic sensors.
Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based space start-up, is renowned for its 'Fireflies', the world's highest-resolution commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites. This groundbreaking technology will bring unprecedented precision to monitoring the planet and setting a new benchmark for hyperspectral imaging capabilities.
The upcoming full fleet of 12 satellites will deliver Analysis Ready Data (ARD) and Value-Added Services (VAS) for various applications, including precision agriculture, water quality monitoring, land-use mapping, environmental compliance, disaster assessment, infrastructure development, climate change monitoring, marine surveillance, national security, and urban planning.
Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe, stated that the initiative signifies the maturity of India's private space industry. The project is expected to lead to Atmanirbharata (self-reliance) in high-resolution optical and radar data, catalyzing innovation, creating thousands of high-skill jobs, and contributing directly to growing India's space economy from $8.4 billion in 2022 to $44 billion by 2033.
The selection process involved a rigorous technical and financial evaluation, with three consortia shortlisted. The project marks a transition from a government-led model to a vibrant public-private partnership ecosystem in India's space industry.
The announcement reaffirms the Government of India's commitment to space sector reforms and its support for enabling Indian industry to emerge as a major global player in the space economy. The initiative was made on Dr Vikram Sarabhai's birthday, symbolizing the realization of his vision for a space program that serves India's development.
The EO system will include satellite manufacturing, launches from Indian soil, ground infrastructure, and commercialisation of data services. Once operational, the constellation will be among the most advanced EO systems globally, designed, built, and operated entirely in India by Indian talent.
Notably, Pixxel made India's first private sector satellite constellation of three satellites and raised nearly $100 million for this start-up earlier this year. The selection of the PixxelSpace India-led consortium is a testament to the growing capabilities of India's private space sector.
Shri Rajeev Jyoti, Director of the Technical Directorate at IN-SPACe, stated that the project aims to create India's own independent and future-ready geospatial infrastructure. The new satellite constellation will provide high-resolution satellite images, addressing a concern raised about the quality of images from previous Indian satellites.
The project is currently in an early phase, having just won the contract, with satellite deployment and constellation operational status expected progressively through 2029-2030. The winning consortium will invest over Rs 1,200 crore to deploy 12 advanced EO satellites over the next five years.
[1] SpaceInIndia
[2] The Hindu
[3] Business Standard
[4] LiveMint
- The consortium led by PixxelSpace India, winner of a significant ₹1,200 crore contract in 2025, aims to bring unprecedented precision to the planet with their hyperspectral imaging technology, contributing to India's space economy and setting a new benchmark in space-and-astronomy.
- The upcoming EO satellite constellation, designed, built, and operated entirely in India under the public-private partnership program, is expected to catalyze innovation, create thousands of high-skill jobs, and position India as a major global player in the technology sector, leading to a stronger economy.
