Pixxel and NSG UP42 Partner to Expand Hyperspectral Earth Observation Capabilities in Saudi Arabia

Expanding sovereign Earth intelligence with high-resolution hyperspectral insights and advanced environmental and resource monitoring.

Bengaluru, India and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 16 March 2026: Pixxel, a planetary intelligence company that builds and operates some of the world’s most advanced imaging satellites, and NSG UP42, Saudi Arabia’s national Earth Observation data platform and part of Neo Space Group (NSG) - a PIF company and the Kingdom’s leading commercial space services provider, today announced a strategic partnership to make Pixxel’s hyperspectral satellite imagery available across Saudi Arabia through the NSG UP42 platform.

Through this collaboration, Pixxel’s 5-meter resolution hyperspectral imagery from its Firefly constellation. With coverage across 135+ spectral bands and a 40 km swath width, Firefly captures detailed spectral signatures that enable advanced analysis of surface composition, material properties, and environmental change at scale.

The integration of hyperspectral capabilities into NSG UP42 strengthens Saudi Arabia’s geospatial infrastructure by providing government entities, regulators, and enterprises with deeper environmental and surface intelligence through a unified, sovereign platform.

Organisations across the Kingdom will be able to leverage hyperspectral data to support applications including:

• Mineral detection and resource exploration: identifying surface material composition and mineral signatures with high spectral precision
• Mine site closure and rehabilitation monitoring: assessing post-closure land conditions and environmental recovery
• Illegal mining detection: identifying unauthorised surface activity and land-use changes
• Environmental compliance and sustainability reporting: enabling science-based regulatory oversight

Commenting on the partnership, Turki Alsubaie, Senior Vice President, NSG UP42, said: “This collaboration marks an important step in expanding advanced Earth Observation capabilities within the Kingdom. By integrating Pixxel’s hyperspectral constellation into NSG UP42, we are enhancing Saudi Arabia’s ability to monitor and manage its natural resources with greater precision - strengthening our sovereign Earth intelligence ecosystem and empowering public and private sector stakeholders with actionable insights aligned with Vision 2030’s economic diversification and sustainability objectives.”

“Advanced sensing technologies are becoming foundational infrastructure for modern economies,” said Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Pixxel. “Expanding hyperspectral availability with NSG UP42, Saudi Arabia’s national Earth Observation platform, reflects a broader shift toward integrated Earth intelligence that will shape how industries plan, monitor, and manage resources in the years ahead.”

Looking ahead, Pixxel’s next-generation Honeybee satellites, equipped with extended spectral coverage, will further expand analytical potential once launched, including applications such as greenhouse gas monitoring and enhanced mineral identification.

This partnership advances NSG UP42’s mission to build a scalable, integrated Earth intelligence platform - positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for advanced geospatial analytics and data-driven decision-making.

Organizations can explore Pixxel’s hyperspectral offerings through NSG UP42 at: https://sa.up42.com