Bengaluru: In an significant collaboration for India’s burgeoning private space sector, Dhruva Space, a Hyderabad-based full-stack Space-Tech company, has partnered with Pixxel, a global leader in satellite imaging, to supply its advanced Solis+ space-grade solar panels for Pixxel’s upcoming hyperspectral satellite constellation.
Dhruva Space will integrate its indigenously designed and manufactured Solis+ solar panels into Pixxel’s next-generation satellite fleet. Pixxel is building the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation, aiming to deliver daily global revisit capabilities with unmatched spectral fidelity. This partnership underscores the growing interdependence and maturity of India’s NewSpace ecosystem, combining Dhruva Space’s expertise in high-performance space power systems with Pixxel’s cutting-edge Earth observation technology.
Dhruva Space’s Solis+ solar panels are engineered for high-efficiency power generation in orbit, utilizing triple-junction gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells with efficiencies up to 30%. These panels are precision-manufactured in-house at Dhruva Space’s Hyderabad facility and deliver power outputs in the kilowatt range, making them ideal for larger satellite classes and complex spacecraft missions.
The Solis+ technology is designed to withstand the extreme conditions of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and offers high mission durability. Since its successful delivery of Solis+ panels to the Government of India in November 2024, Dhruva Space has expanded its footprint internationally, fulfilling export orders for customers in the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Australia, and France.
Pixxel’s Hyperspectral Satellite Constellation: A Leap in Earth Observation
Pixxel’s constellation builds on the success of its Firefly satellites launched earlier in 2025, which marked the world’s first commercial hyperspectral imagery at 5-meter resolution. This constellation, projected to include 18 to 24 satellites, will provide daily global coverage with spectral data 50 times richer than conventional satellites, enabling unprecedented insights across agriculture, environment, mining, oil and gas, and other critical sectors.
Kshitij Khandelwal, Founder and CTO of Pixxel, emphasized the mission-critical nature of power systems in space, stating, “There’s no room for errors in space. As we expand our capabilities, we’re building with partners who bring deep technical ability and a shared focus on mission readiness, and Dhruva Space exemplifies both.” He added that this collaboration strengthens India’s space hardware ecosystem and supports resilient infrastructure for Earth’s critical needs.
Abhay Egoor, CTO and Co-founder of Dhruva Space, highlighted the significance of this partnership as a testament to India’s NewSpace capabilities. “There are very few players globally who design, manufacture, qualify, and export space-grade solar panels, and Dhruva Space is among them,” he said. Egoor described Solis+ as the product of years of indigenous R&D and spaceflight heritage, designed specifically for LEO missions requiring high durability.
Dhruva Space is also establishing a state-of-the-art spacecraft manufacturing facility in South Asia, spread over 6.5 acres with 280,000 square feet of built-up area. This includes a 30,000 square-foot dedicated zone for solar array design and development, alongside a 40,000 square-foot Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT) area capable of simultaneous spacecraft integration for satellites up to 500 kg. This facility aims to enable vertical integration and scalable satellite production entirely from Indian soil.
Pixxel’s hyperspectral constellation is poised to revolutionize Earth observation by providing data that helps monitor and predict critical global phenomena with unparalleled detail. The constellation supports a wide array of applications, from environmental monitoring and climate action to resource management across industries worldwide.
Pixxel has raised over $95 million in funding from global investors including Google, M&G Catalyst, Lightspeed, and Aditya Birla Ventures, reinforcing its position as the most well-funded hyperspectral imaging startup globally.
The Dhruva-Pixxel partnership is a clear signal to the global space market that Indian private space companies are rapidly advancing with indigenous technology, flight heritage, and export readiness. It also reflects a broader trend of collaboration within India’s private space sector to build resilient, scalable, and globally competitive space infrastructure.
This strategic alliance between Dhruva Space and Pixxel marks a great step in India’s NewSpace journey, showcasing the country’s growing prowess in space technology innovation and its expanding role on the global space stage.
