Max Q: One other day, one other delay

CashStrive

Jun 5, 2023 — 3 min read

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Hi there and welcome again to Max Q!

On this challenge:

Pixxel’s new investor
Mission delays for Boeing, Rocket Lab
Information from SpaceX and extra

Hyperspectral imagery startup Pixxel has closed $36 million in funding because it prepares to roll out new distant sensing and analytics capabilities to prospects.

The LA- and Bangalore-based startup additionally scored a brand new strategic investor: Google, the tech big that’s as well-known for its mapping merchandise as it’s for its search engine. Whereas Google led the Sequence B funding spherical, this doesn’t mark the beginning of its relationship with Pixxel, CEO Awais Ahmed mentioned in a latest interview.

“We have been already working with them as a shopper earlier than this,” he defined, with an AI analysis group from Google using Pixxel’s hyperspectral knowledge in agricultural functions. Google additionally rolled out its Earth Engine final 12 months, a strong software that offers governments and companies entry to an enormous trove of Earth remark knowledge from a whole lot of sensors in orbit. Lots of Pixxel’s customers individually use Earth Engine, Ahmed mentioned, and the final word aim is to combine the startup’s knowledge onto that service.

Monochrome image on left and hyperspectral image on right of a satellite view of mountains.

Picture Credit: Pixxel

Boeing and NASA mentioned that the primary crewed flight check of the Starliner capsule can be additional delayed as a consequence of a brand new crop of technical points with the spacecraft.

The primary crewed mission was scheduled to fly two NASA astronauts on July 21 after being pushed again from an earlier April launch date. Officers didn’t present a brand new launch date throughout a media briefing, although Boeing’s VP of business crew, Mark Nappi, mentioned management would spend the following week or so determining a plan to make sure the capsule is protected for flight.

“The underside line right here is: security is at all times our high precedence,” a Boeing official mentioned. “It’s at all times been that approach with human spaceflight. And in order that’s what drives this choice. You’ll be able to say we’re disillusioned as a result of it means a delay, however the group is proud that we’re making the suitable selections.”