Against the backdrop of growing international cooperation in space technology, an Indian space startup has announced a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening its satellite capabilities.
Pixxel Space has entered into a new partnership with French company Exotrail. The announcement was made during the India-France Innovation Year event held in Mumbai, attended by Prime Minister Modi and President Macron. The collaboration focuses on upgrading Pixxel’s high-resolution hyperspectral satellites using Exotrail’s electric propulsion technology through 2027.
As part of the partnership, Exotrail’s Hall-Effect thrusters will be integrated into Pixxel’s satellites. These thrusters are expected to improve satellite efficiency and operational flexibility in space. Designed to support a wide range of satellite sizes, the propulsion systems enable payload prioritisation, higher thrust efficiency, greater operational flexibility, and improved deployment and end-of-life management.
The partnership comes at a time when Pixxel is scaling up its operations. The company currently operates the world’s highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites and has recently secured a major grant linked to Indian Air Force projects. Pixxel is also working with other Indian space startups to invest more than ₹1,200 crore in Earth Observation satellites.
Commenting on the collaboration, Pixxel CEO Awais Ahmed said, “Partnering with Exotrail strengthens our roadmap for scalable, efficient space systems, while also reflecting the growing collaboration between the Indian and French space ecosystems,” highlighting the role of global partnerships in shaping the future of space technology.
The agreement signals a step forward in combining advanced propulsion technology with next-generation Earth observation systems, reinforcing cooperation between the Indian and French space sectors.
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