India Backs Pixxel-Led Consortium for 12-Satellite Earth Imaging Fleet

India’s space-promotion agency IN-SPACe has cleared a PixxelSpace India–led consortium to design, build and operate a constellation of 12 Earth-imaging satellites, marking the country’s first fully private satellite fleet. The group plans to invest about ₹1,200 crore ($137 million) and begin deploying the spacecraft in phases over the next four to five years. The multi-sensor satellites will provide panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral and synthetic-aperture radar data to support applications ranging from crop and water monitoring to disaster management, urban planning and national security. IN-SPACe said the public-private partnership will give Indian users ready access to high-resolution imagery, reducing reliance on foreign providers while creating new export opportunities for geospatial services. Under the arrangement, the government will offer strategic, technical and policy support, while the consortium will own and commercialise the constellation and associated ground infrastructure. IN-SPACe called the project a milestone for India’s growing commercial-space sector and a model for future collaborations that harness private capital and expertise alongside national space capabilities.