Hyderabad, India – Dhruva Space, a leading Indian space technology startup, has announced a strategic agreement to supply its indigenously developed Solis+ space-grade solar panels to Pixxel, a prominent Earth imaging company, for its next generation of hyperspectral imaging satellites. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in India’s burgeoning private space sector, underscoring the nation’s growing capabilities in manufacturing critical satellite components domestically.

The Solis+ panels, designed and manufactured by Dhruva Space, are engineered to meet the rigorous demands of the space environment, offering high efficiency and robust performance crucial for powering Pixxel’s advanced Earth observation missions. The panels are optimized for power-to-mass ratio, a critical metric for small satellite constellations, ensuring maximum energy generation with minimal weight penalty. This supply agreement is set to support Pixxel’s ambitious deployment schedule for its constellation, which aims to provide global, high-resolution hyperspectral data.

“Our partnership with Pixxel is a testament to the advanced capabilities we have cultivated in space-grade solar technology,” stated Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO of Dhruva Space. “The Solis+ panels represent years of research and development, ensuring reliability and peak performance in the harsh orbital environment. Providing a critical power source for Pixxel’s innovative hyperspectral satellites aligns perfectly with our vision of enabling a robust and self-reliant space ecosystem.”

Pixxel’s hyperspectral satellites are designed to capture data across hundreds of spectral bands, far beyond the capabilities of traditional multispectral imagers. This rich data enables precise analysis for applications ranging from mineral mapping and agricultural yield prediction to environmental monitoring and disaster assessment. Reliable power generation from the solar arrays is paramount for the continuous operation of the sensitive onboard instruments and data transmission systems.

The Indian space industry has seen rapid growth, propelled by government reforms and increased private sector participation. This agreement between Dhruva Space and Pixxel exemplifies the ‘Make in India’ ethos within the high-technology domain, fostering a domestic supply chain for complex space missions. The ability to source critical components like solar panels locally enhances supply chain security and reduces project costs, positioning Indian companies competitively in the global space market. As Pixxel expands its constellation, the sustained supply of high-performance solar panels from Dhruva Space will be instrumental in achieving its operational objectives and delivering valuable insights to its global clientele.