Indian space start-ups Dhruv and Pixxel successfully launch their satellites into orbit

Other Indian space firms have also recently garnered headlines, besides Pixxel and Dhruv. With the successful launch its Vikram rocket earlier this month, Hyderabad-based Skyroot became the first private business in India to launch its own rocket.

India has allowed private companies to participate in its space programme, and on yesterday's ISRO PSLV C54 mission, the Indian space entrepreneurs Dhruva Space and Pixxel successfully launched their satellites into orbit.

Thybolt-1 and Thybolt-2 were the names of the two satellites, which were made by the Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space. The satellites were totally constructed in Hyderabad with the help of about 20 MSMEs(Micro small & medium enterprises).

Nine satellites were launched as part of the operation, including ISRO's EOS-06 satellite that would enable India collect data to best utilise its maritime resources. However, three smaller satellites created by Indian companies also rode the rocket.

According to Chaitanya Dora, co-founder of Dhruv Space, "Our satellites were constructed at a price that was many times lower than that of satellites constructed in western nations. This will enable India to gain a larger share of the global space business."

The Pixxel company of Bangalore manufactured the third made in India start-up satellite that was carried by the PSLV mission. Pixxel created the third hyperspectral satellite for the business, named Anand. Pixxel has never launched an independent satellite from India before. In the past, it has relied on Elon Musk's SpaceX to carry out those tasks.

Pixxel will use the 15 kilogramme satellite Anand to demonstrate its photography and technical prowess. Through above 150 wavelengths, it will give environmental data while providing a detailed perspective of the world.

According to Pixxel co-founder Awais Ahmed, "our hyperspectral satellites are exceptional in a way that they can deliver hundreds of bands of information globally at a high frequency, which makes them perfect for applications in disaster relief, agricultural monitoring, energy monitoring and urban planning. In comparison to other traditional satellites in orbit, they are capable of beaming down up to 50 times more information in unprecedented detail."

Other Indian space firms have also recently garnered headlines, besides Pixxel and Dhruv. With the successful launch its Vikram rocket earlier this month, Hyderabad-based Skyroot became the first private business in India to launch its own rocket.

On the successful launch of Pixxel and Dhruva Space satellites on ISRO PSLV-C54/EOS-06 mission from Sriharikota yesterday, Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt, Director General, Indian Space Association said:“The launch of Pixxel and Dhruva Space satellites on ISRO PSLV-C54/EOS-06 mission today yet again demonstrated the capability and potential of the Indian space startups. Today’s launch is a testimony of the determination of the Indian private space industry to take up new challenges and push for the growth of the Indian Space economy, which has huge potential. The Indian satellite services and application market is specifically focusing to address the increased demand for high bandwidth with low latency, providing communication services to the offline population, growth in the Internet of Things (IoT), and expanding remote sensing services, today’s launch also stirs the momentum in these services. Our heartiest congratulations to ISRO for the successful PSLV-C54/EOS-06 mission and both our members Dhruva and Pixxel on this achievement which will spur the positive momentum for the Make in India vision of our Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi for the Indian space economy. As per the ISpA EY report, the satellite services and application segment is expected to form the largest share of the space economy accounting for 36%. The satellite manufacturing segment will be the 2nd fastest growing in the Indian space economy by 2025.”