Pixxel and SIIS partner up to expand hyperspectral data access in Korea

SI Imaging Services (SIIS) is partnering with Pixxel, a US/Indian-based space technology company building the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation, to supply hyperspectral satellite data in Korea. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 19 November during the Satellite Utilization Conference. Their partnership marks a significant step towards providing hyperspectral data to relevant institutions and companies in the country.

Pixxel is gearing up to launch its Fireflies constellation, consisting of six commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites, in the first part of this year. Designed to deliver 5m resolution, a 40km swath and daily revisit capabilities across hundreds of bands, this constellation will provide unparalleled global coverage. This will enable industries to access high-fidelity hyperspectral data for a wide range of applications, including agriculture, climate monitoring and resource management. Hyperspectral data offers far greater spectral detail than traditional multispectral data, facilitating precise analysis of the physical and chemical properties of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.

SIIS plans to strengthen its Earth observation business with the launch of its ultra-high-resolution satellite, SpaceEye-T, this coming March. Developed with domestic technology and investment, SpaceEye-T will be Korea’s first private Earth observation satellite capable of delivering 30cm-class ultra-high-resolution spatial information. With this, SIIS aims to compete with global leaders in the geospatial industry.

Strengths of different data types

Through this strategic partnership with Pixxel, SIIS intends to enhance its market competitiveness by combining precise spatial information obtained from ultra-high-resolution imagery with the material-specific properties of hyperspectral data. The company expects this integration will enable users to leverage the unique characteristics and strengths of different data types, meeting diverse analytical demands and expanding the applications of satellite data.

SIIS CEO Kim Moon-Gyu remarked: “Through this collaboration with Pixxel, we will expand our offerings beyond optical and radar imagery to include hyperspectral data. We are committed to broadening the scope of satellite data applications and providing valuable insights to the Earth observation solutions market.”

Transformative insights

Awais Ahmed, founder and CEO of Pixxel, said: “This partnership with SIIS marks an exciting opportunity for us. Together, we aim to provide transformative insights that enable end-users across industries to tackle complex challenges. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to building a health monitor for the planet and advancing Earth observation solutions globally.”

Pixxel’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Aakash Parekh expressed his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to partner with SIIS and could not think of a better way to enter the Korean market with our groundbreaking 5-metre hyperspectral dataset.” He added: “SIIS has built a high-calibre team with deep expertise, ideally suited to educate end-users across agriculture, energy, environment and defence on the transformative benefits of hyperspectral technology.”