It has been an extraordinary experience managing the 'Firefly' Program, leading to the launch of India's First Private Satellite Constellation!
I've spent the last ~4 years among the remarkable people @PixxelSpace. Here a 🧵on some interesting moments from our journey so far:
I've spent the last ~4 years among the remarkable people @PixxelSpace. Here a 🧵on some interesting moments from our journey so far:
The final configuration for Firefly came after hundreds of iterations, thousands of individual parts, and tens of thousands of simulation and analysis hours!
It's crazy how we went from a design configuration freeze to satellites in space, in under a year!
[1/N]
It's crazy how we went from a design configuration freeze to satellites in space, in under a year!
[1/N]
We've had our fair share of setbacks too, from major components blowing up, to botched up coatings, to accidently almost deploying solar panels, to bolts loosening up after a test, to utterly chaotic flight rehearsals.
And yet, our team persevered through it all!
[2/N]
And yet, our team persevered through it all!
[2/N]
We tested, failed, improved, re-worked and re-tested.
Eventually we achieved the first Power-Up for the Fireflies. It was tense, it almost killed the whole circuitry, and it needed urgent fixing.
But for the first time as an integrated satellite, Firefly was alive!
[3/N]
Eventually we achieved the first Power-Up for the Fireflies. It was tense, it almost killed the whole circuitry, and it needed urgent fixing.
But for the first time as an integrated satellite, Firefly was alive!
[3/N]
In parallel, we solved the toughest problem of them all.
With grit through a gruesome grind, we build the world's highest resolution space-based hyperspectral Imager.
And not just one, but 6 of them!
And soon, each imagers was integrated onto their Fireflies!
[4/N]
With grit through a gruesome grind, we build the world's highest resolution space-based hyperspectral Imager.
And not just one, but 6 of them!
And soon, each imagers was integrated onto their Fireflies!
[4/N]
Soon we focused even more efforts on testing our flight software, and operational readiness through Day-In-The-Life (of Firefly) tests.
We've had several 2AM chai sessions, simply because the passionate people at Pixxel were obsessed with sending only the best to space!
[5/N]
We've had several 2AM chai sessions, simply because the passionate people at Pixxel were obsessed with sending only the best to space!
[5/N]
Through these years we also learned how to manage an arsenal of numerous global suppliers, an inventory of countless components, and all the regulatory challenges of moving satellites around.
And yes, we did eventually find a way to safely load satellites onto a truck! :)
[6/N]
And yes, we did eventually find a way to safely load satellites onto a truck! :)
[6/N]
All of this leading to the moment that all 6 Fireflies were together for the first, and the last time ever!
India's first private satellite constellation was ready to launch, side-by-side global space industry veterans, on the @SpaceX Falcon9!
[7/N]
India's first private satellite constellation was ready to launch, side-by-side global space industry veterans, on the @SpaceX Falcon9!
[7/N]
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1879218268101300362
And while the satellites deployed quietly into the starry night...
[8/N]
[8/N]
https://x.com/PixxelSpace/status/1879289368650952985
...our team in the Mission Control Center listened, ...
[9/N]
[9/N]
...and soon the whole nation tuned in too!
[10/N]
[10/N]
https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1880872207598891398
For @PixxelSpace just launched India's First Private Satellite Constellation.
Through an orchestrated program of tireless trials, inspirational ingenuity, and persistant progress!
And it is an honour to have managed this Firefly Program.
[11/N]
Through an orchestrated program of tireless trials, inspirational ingenuity, and persistant progress!
And it is an honour to have managed this Firefly Program.
[11/N]
Yup. That's me!
You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.
Well, let's start here:
You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.
Well, let's start here:
https://x.com/3dash1dot/status/1880982395194933313
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