New Delhi

Two Indian space startups, Pixxel and Cosmoserve Space, have announced a collaboration to advance technologies aimed at removing space debris—defunct, human-made objects orbiting Earth that pose growing risks to satellites and space missions.

Under the partnership, Bengaluru-based Pixxel will provide a satellite bus—essentially the main structure of a satellite that supports mission operations—to Hyderabad-based Cosmoserve for its upcoming in-orbit demonstration mission.

Pixxel founder and CEO Awais Ahmed said the collaboration aligns with the company’s vision of ensuring sustainable use of space.

“At Pixxel, we believe responsible access to space requires active stewardship of the orbital environment. Partnering with Cosmoserve is a natural extension of our commitment to building a sustainable future in space,” he said.

The satellite bus will act as the foundational platform on which Cosmoserve will integrate and test its proprietary debris capture and removal systems in orbit.

Cosmoserve founder and CEO Chiranjeevi Phanindra B said Pixxel’s experience, including the deployment of its Firefly satellite constellation, played a key role in the partnership.

“This collaboration gives us the confidence to execute our demonstration mission with a higher probability of success,” he noted.

Space debris has emerged as a major global concern, with increasing numbers of defunct satellites and fragments orbiting the Earth. These objects can lead to accidental collisions, potentially damaging or destroying operational satellites and disrupting critical services such as navigation, communication, and weather forecasting.

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The partnership marks a significant step by India’s private space sector towards addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the evolving global space ecosystem.