Ikigai Law advised Pixxel Space on their contract to launch their earth observation satellite with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The ISRO chairperson calls this mission “first of its kind,” being the first private remote sensing satellite to launch from India. The satellite will fly on board a polar satellite launch vehicle. The Department of Space has rolled out several reforms to liberalise the space sector for the private industry, and Pixxel’s launch is one of the first few missions to take shape as a result of these reforms.
The project also involved advising on insurance contracts for the launch and transit. Managing Partner Anirudh Rastogi, Principal Associate Tanya Sadana and Senior Associate Darpan Singhi advised on the matter.
Ikigai Law had in the recent past advised Pixxel on its launch contract with Momentus to launch another remote sensing satellite later in the year on board SpaceX’ Falcon-9. Momentus has built the in-space equivalent of the connecting flight. A reusable Falcon-9 carries a Momentus spacecraft and other payloads to a common orbit. Here the Momentus spacecraft (that is carrying multiple satellites like Pixxel’s) departs to custom destinations in space to deploy the satellites. This makes the Momentus launch unique and entirely unprecedented.
More about Pixxel
Pixxel is building a constellation of earth imaging satellites to provide real-time remote sensing data across the world. It is planning to launch 30 satellites by June 2023. Its satellites aim to provide highly accurate data-based insights in agriculture, climate change and forestry. The company recently raised a funding of $5 million from Blume, Lightspeed and growX.
Ikigai Law’s space and aviation practice
Ikigai Law recently advised satellite-data analytics firm Blue Sky Analytics in its corporate structuring and funding round. The firm has also advised model rocketeering company Specific Impulse, that develops scaled-down (working) rockets for skilling purposes, on licensing of its propulsion material. The team had previously advised Team Indus on their launch contract with ISRO to launch a lunar lander and robotic rover on board a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) operated by the ISRO. This launch contract was later terminated. The firm also represents the Drone Federation of India and several of India’s leading drones companies, and was named a ‘pioneer’ by the Economic Times for its contribution to the drones policy. The firm’s aerospace, defence and aviation practices are ranked by Legal500, that calls the team ‘influential, effective and knowledgeable.’ It further says “A significant aspect of the practice involves advising on new fields of regulation, often resulting in precedent-setting policy developments.” Legal500 also ranks Anirudh Rastogi as a “next general partner”, who gives “super over-all advice and coherent solutions;” and Nehaa Chaudhari, Tanya Sadana and Darpan Singhi as “key lawyers.”
For more on the topic please get in touch with us at contact@ikigailaw.com