Dhruva Space has partnered with Pixxel to supply space-grade solar panels for Pixxel’s upcoming fleet of hyperspectral imaging satellites. The panels, part of Dhruva Space’s Solis+ line, are designed for low-Earth orbit operations and offer power outputs in the kilowatt range. They incorporate triple-junction gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells with efficiencies of up to 30 percent.
Manufactured at Dhruva Space’s facility in Hyderabad, the Solis+ panels are intended for high-performance satellite missions. The company has previously supplied these panels to the Government of India and has export orders from customers in the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Australia, and France.
Pixxel’s new satellite fleet builds on the Firefly series launched in early 2025, which provided 5-meter resolution hyperspectral imagery for commercial use. The upcoming constellation is designed to improve daily revisit capability and spectral resolution.
“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 Chief Technology Officer at Pixxel.
“There are very few players globally who design, manufacture, qualify, and export space-grade solar panels, and Dhruva Space is among them,” said Abhay Egoor, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of Dhruva Space.
Dhruva Space is also developing a spacecraft manufacturing facility, spanning 6.5 acres with a total built-up area of 280,000 square feet. The facility includes 30,000 square feet dedicated to solar array design and development, and a 40,000 square-foot Assembly, Integration & Testing (AIT) zone capable of accommodating spacecraft weighing up to 500 kilograms.
Pixxel is building a constellation of 18 to 24 hyperspectral satellites aimed at providing daily revisit coverage and enhanced Earth observation capabilities across various sectors. The company has raised USD 95 million from investors including Google, Aditya Birla Ventures, Glade Brook Capital Partners, and M&G Catalyst.
Based in Hyderabad, Dhruva Space provides end-to-end space engineering solutions across satellite, launch, and ground segments for both civilian and defence applications. Its offerings include satellite platforms, ground stations, and launch integration services.