Pixxel and the resurgence of Indian space tech

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Editor's note: Space exploration is the ultimate dream for many a technologist, the veritable final frontier. Simultaneously, it’s a field for countries to flex their technical know-how and achievements, almost like a sport. The humble origins of the Indian space programme have been well documented, in books, documentaries, podcasts. The Indian Space programme managed to launch a rocket in space in November 1963 from Thumba, a tiny hamlet in Kerala, with launch equipment brought in on bullock carts and bicycles. In due course, ISRO and India garnered international recognition and acclaim for its cost-effective space programme. Successful missions like Mangalyaan (a Mars orbiter) and Chandrayaan (a lunar probe) are seen as examples of India’s growing footprint in space. However, success largely remains limited to ISRO’s efforts—private space companies have not been able to make much of a mark. Over the past decade or so, the nascent Indian space tech sector has gone through cycles of expectation and excitement, followed by some degree of disappointment. In this context, the announcement of the close of a $7.3 million seed round by space tech and …