What Is Pyxel?⭐
Pyxel is an open-source simulation framework developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for modeling and testing space-based imaging sensors. It’s written in Python and designed to simulate the entire signal chain of an instrument-from photon collection to final digitized output. This includes how the instrument behaves under different conditions, such as radiation noise, charge transfer inefficiencies, or optical distortions.
At its core, Pyxel allows researchers and engineers to model complex detectors like:
- CCD (Charge-Coupled Devices)
- CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensors
- Radiation-tolerant detectors used in harsh space environments
It does this by breaking down the simulation into modular stages, where each stage mimics a real-world physical process:
- Scene: The simulated light source or observation target.
- Optics: How light passes through lenses or mirrors.
- Detector: Pixel-by-pixel modeling of photoelectric conversion and noise.
- Readout chain: Analog-to-digital conversion, gain, offsets, and readout electronics.
Each stage can be customized with YAML configuration files or Python modules, making it highly extensible and suitable for a variety of mission profiles.
Why It Matters to Me🦕
Before I ever contributed to Pyxel, I already had a deep and personal fascination with space, existence, and technology. I’ve always been drawn to how we build instruments to observe the cosmos-to translate distant photons into meaning. Space technology, to me, isn’t just about missions and machinery; it’s about how we extend our perception into places we may never physically go, and how we make sense of reality through tools. So when I found Pyxel, it wasn’t a coincidence, it was a deliberate step. I was seeking a way to contribute meaningfully to the space field, and Pyxel stood out as a project that aligns with both my technical skillset and my philosophical orientation. It’s not about rockets; it’s about vision-how we model, simulate, and prepare for what can’t be fully known until it’s encountered. As someone who lives with chronic illness and navigates life through uncertainty, Pyxel’s modular, configurable nature felt intuitive to me. There’s something profoundly resonant about a system designed to ask, “How will this behave when conditions deviate from the expected?” That mirrors how I live: with constant adaptation, planning, and a sensitivity to subtle changes in my internal and external environment. Working with Pyxel gave me a meaningful way to merge my creative problem-solving, my love for space, and my lived experience into something real and collaborative.
Contributing as a Disabled Technologist👨🏻💻
I live with multiple disabilities, and most traditional paths into space technology are not accessible to me, whether due to rigid schedules, geographic limitations, or institutional barriers. But open source offers a different kind of access: one that values asynchronous contribution, community collaboration, and the ability to build at your own pace. Contributing to Pyxel has been empowering because:
- I can work when my health allows.
- I can dive into real, mission-adjacent tools.
- I can build a public contribution record that reflects real-world experience.
ESA’s openness in making Pyxel available on GitLab is not just good science, it’s an act of inclusivity. It creates opportunities for people like me to participate in space exploration, even if we’re not wearing lab coats or sitting in control rooms.
Looking Forward☀️🌈
Contributing to Pyxel has shifted how I view myself as a technologist. I’m participating in a larger system that helps us understand the universe more clearly. That perspective makes me feel more aligned with the future I want: one where technology includes disabled voices, where simulations reflect real-world complexity, and where space science isn’t behind a wall of exclusivity. I look forward to continuing my contributions, not just in Pyxel, but in any field where complex systems meet human experience. Space has always been about reaching beyond limits, and working on Pyxel has shown me that this includes the limits people often place on who “belongs” in science and engineering.