On November 26th, Pixxel, a Bengaluru based startup will launch its third Hyper-Spectral Satellite into space. Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle(PSLV) will carry the Satellite.
It is Pixxel’s first space operation on Indian soil, it has already launched two satellites, “Iteration-1” and “Iteration-2” before with the Falcon-9 rocket of SpaceX from Cape Canaveral in the United States.
What is Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite and it’s purpose?
Currently, there are 3 types of imaging we can gather from space, Red-Green and Blue imaging, Hyperspectral Imaging and Multispectral imaging. Hyperspectral Imaging is useful for gathering data at hundreds of wavelengths. The Hyper Spectral Satellite is capable of gathering and analyzing data from the whole electromagnetic spectrum.
The purpose of Hyperspectral imaging is to discover new objects or elements and identify useful materials. The traditional red-green-blue or multispectral imaging is not capable for the same type of data.
For example, hyperspectral imaging can help us in analysing the soil on our planet. It can also help in determining any oil or gas leaks in the oceans. The data gathered from soil analysis can further help in the Agriculture sector. It can help farmers better understand the nutrient value of their soil and how they can get better yield off of it.
Pixxel aims to eventually build and send off 24 commercial Hyperspectral Satellites to space. Pixxel plans to launch the first 6 satellites by mid-2023, the same are getting at Pixxel’s Bengaluru Facilities.
What Else is Happening in the Mission?
Along with Pixxel’s Hyperspectral Imaging Satellite, ISRO will also be launching the Earth Observation Satellite-03(EOS-03). This will be last launch of ISRO’s PSLV in 2022. The launch will take place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Saturday. There will also be 8 nanosatellites including one developed by India and Bhutan jointly.
In September 2021, India signed an agreement with Bhutan for the development of the Satellite. The talks for the same were initiated after Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Thimphu in 2019.
ISRO’s PSLV Satellite has proved it’s worth in previous missions like Chandrayan and Mangalyan. It is safe to say that PSLV is the perfect choice for such kind of Space Mission.
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