Indian consortium to deliver Earth observation satellite system

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Satellite Networks; 13 August 2025; 2957 views

Pixxel, an Indian space technology company, has announced that a consortium it leads, along with partners Dhruva Space, PierSight and SatSure, has been selected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to design, build, own, and operate a national Earth observation constellation under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

Pixxel describes itself as a space data company and spacecraft manufacturer redefining Earth observation with the world’s highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral imaging constellation. Dhruva Spave is another space technology company, offering full-stack satellite engineering. PierSight is an Indian space-tech startup building SAR and AIS satellite constellations to provide persistent, all-weather maritime monitoring. SatSure is a deep-tech startup that combines satellite remote sensing, big data analytics, and AI to deliver decision-intelligence solutions.

This partnership means that a private Indian consortium will deliver the nation’s first Earth observation satellite system (EOSS) – a 12-satellite network to be developed over the next four to five years with an investment of more than INR12 billion (about US$137 million).

The constellation will feature a mix of sub-metre very high-resolution, wide-swath multispectral, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and hyperspectral satellites, enabling applications such as precision agriculture, water quality monitoring, land-use mapping, environmental compliance, disaster assessment and infrastructure development.

Together, the consortium will build and operate the complete ecosystem, from satellites and ground stations to value-added services and advanced analytics, serving customers in India and globally.

Operated on a satellite-as-a-service model, the programme will provide guaranteed national access to advanced EO data while leveraging private-sector agility to deliver it at scale.

In line with the country’s policy drive, the project will also enhance India’s data sovereignty, reduce dependence on foreign imagery, and ensure that all satellites are manufactured domestically, launched on Indian rockets, and controlled from within the country.

Reuters says the Indian government wants to reduce its dependence on foreign systems, including the widely used US Global Positioning System (GPS), and has said that its regional navigation satellite system, called NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), provides more accurate domestic navigation and that its use would benefit the economy.