Indian startup Pixxel launches commercial satellite 'Shakuntala' with SpaceX

Spacetech startup Pixxel has successfully launched its first fullyfledged commercial satellite called Shakuntala with Elon Muskrun SpaceXs Falcon9 rocketBeing Pixxels first fullyfledged satellite Shakuntala hosts one of the highest resolution hyperspectral commercial cameras ever flown to space bringing it one step closer to building a 24x7 health monitor for the planet it said in a statementLaunched on Friday aboard SpaceXs Transporter4 mission from Cape Canaveral in the US this launch puts the company within touching distance of its ambitious mission to assemble one of the worlds most advanced constellations of lowearthorbit imaging satellitesFrom being one of the very few finalists in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition in 2017 to now launching our own satellites as part of SpaceXs fourth dedicated rideshare mission life has come fullcircle for us said Awais Ahmed CEO of PixxelWeighing less than 15 kg Shakuntala TD2 is capable of capturing orbital images in more than 150 bands of colour from the visible and infrared spectrum with a resolution of 10metres per pixel far exceeding the specificity of 30metre per pixel hyperspectral satellites launched by a few select organisations such NASA ESA and ISROIn just a few weeks from launch Shakuntala will begin amassing information and uncovering the invisible changes wreaking havoc on our planet like natural gas leakages deforestation melting ice caps pollution and declining crop healthThe launch came at the heels of Pixxels 25 million Series funding from Radical Ventures Seraphim Space Capital Relativity Space cofounder Jordan Noone Lightspeed Partners Blume Ventures and Sparta LLC among othersIt sets the stage for Pixxels first commercial phase satellites to be launched in early 2023With six satellites flown in a sunsynchronous orbit SSO around a 550km altitude Pixxels hyperspectral constellation will be able to cover any point on the globe every 48 hoursThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever