Hyderabad-based spacetech startup Dhruva Space has announced a strategic collaboration with Pixxel, the Indian company behind the world’s most advanced hyperspectral satellite constellation, to supply Space-grade solar panels for Pixxel’s upcoming satellite fleet.
As part of the agreement, Dhruva Space will integrate its indigenously built Solis+ solar panels into Pixxel’s next-generation satellites, expanding India’s capabilities in full-stack space manufacturing and satellite innovation.
Solis+ panels are powered by high-efficiency triple-junction GaAs solar cells, boasting energy conversion rates of up to 30%. Designed for extreme space conditions, these panels deliver multi-kilowatt power outputs, making them ideal for larger spacecraft in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Manufactured entirely in-house at Dhruva Space’s facility in Hyderabad, the panels have already been delivered to the Government of India and exported to the UAE, Austria, Australia, and France.
“Power systems are mission-critical, and 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,” said Kshitij Khandelwal, Founder and CTO, Pixxel.
Pixxel’s next fleet builds on the success of its Firefly satellites, launched in 2025, which provided the world’s first 5-meter resolution commercial hyperspectral imagery. Its constellation of 18–24 satellites is being designed for daily Earth revisit and high spectral fidelity, aimed at tackling global challenges across sectors like agriculture, oil & gas, mining, and climate monitoring.
“This collaboration reflects a shared drive to engineering excellence and a commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible satellite data… It also marks an important step in strengthening India’s space hardware ecosystem,” added Khandelwal.
“This partnership represents the best of India’s NewSpace capabilities coming together,” said Abhay Egoor, CTO & Co-founder, Dhruva Space.
“Solis+ is a result of years of R&D and flight heritage… This agreement is more than just hardware; it signals to the global market that Indian Space-Tech companies are building for scalability, reliability, and export readiness.”
Egoor also revealed that Dhruva Space is building a 6.5-acre manufacturing campus with 280,000 sq. ft. of infrastructure in South Asia. The facility will include a 30,000 sq. ft. solar array design unit and a 40,000 sq. ft. Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT) zone, capable of simultaneous spacecraft integration up to 500 kg.
With this partnership, Dhruva Space and Pixxel highlight the growing synergy in India’s private space sector — a collaboration aimed not just at national advancement, but also at competing in the global space economy.
Backed by investors like Google, Lightspeed, M&G Catalyst, and Aditya Birla Ventures, Pixxel has raised $95 million and is redefining Earth observation through its deeptech-driven approach to hyperspectral imaging and satellite manufacturing.
