Pixxel, Dhruva Space launch satellites aboard Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket

The SpaceX rocket carrying satellites of Pixxel and Dhruva Space lifting off

Bengaluru-based Pixxel Space and Hyderabad's Dhruva Space launched satellites aboard as the Elon Musk-led SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket early on August 27.

While Pixxel launched three more of its Firefly hyperspectral satellites, Dhruva Space satellites hosted payloads of Akula Tech and Esper Sats, marking the start-ups first commercial mission.

Founded by Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal, Pixxel manufactures hyperspectral satellites that helps mine insights on the planet.

Dhruva Space develops satellite infrastructure/platforms along with ground stations. The 13-year-old startup was co-founded by Sanjay Nekkanti, Krishna Teja Penamakuru, Abhay Egoor, and Chaitanya Dora Supureddy.

Pixxel already has three other Firefly satellites in orbit, taking the count after the August 27 launch to six.

Each of its satellite can capture over 135 spectral bands at a 5-meter resolution across a 40-kilometre swath, the start-up said. IT will enable governments to detect changes in Earth’s ecosystems with accuracy.

The startup also said it will now focus on launching its next "Honeybees" satellites, which will work alongside the Fireflies "for even broader spectrum ranges and faster revisit times".

“While there are multiple other satellites in the works, the upcoming Honeybees are special because they will take us further into the electro-magnetic spectrum, enhancing hyperspectral capabilities and increasing the number of use cases we can target," Pixel CTO Kshitij Khandelwal said.

“Teaming up with our commercial partners in Australia (Akula Tech and Esper Sats) creates remarkable opportunities for Indo-Australian Space business, which will, in turn, foster a long-term partnership," Dhruva Space CEO Sanjay Nekkanti had earlier said.

Dhruva Space and Pixxel recently won, as part of a consortium that also includes startups Piersight and SatSure, a bid to build India's first homegrown earth observation satellite network under IN-SPACe's PPP model.

Pixxel has raised $95 million so far, with backers including Google, Lightspeed, and Glade Brook Capital.

Dhruva Space has raised a total of $15 million from a clutch of investors, including Indian Angel Network Alpha Fund and Blue Ashva Capital.