Pixxel, a California-based space technology company, has launched the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation, which is designed to be the highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite network in the world.
The satellites were launched on January 15, 2025, by German launch management company Exolaunch as part of the Transporter-12 rideshare mission using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
According to Pixxel, the Fireflies provide “unprecedented precision to monitoring the planet and setting a new benchmark for hyperspectral imaging capabilities.”
“The future of our planet depends on how deeply we understand it today,” said Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Pixxel. “The successful deployment of our first commercial satellites is a defining moment for how we use space technology to address the planet’s challenges.”
The constellation has a five-meter resolution, attained for the first time in a hyperspectral spacecraft. This makes the Fireflies six times sharper than the 30-meter resolution of existing satellites. This allows them to capture details that were previously undetectable.
In addition to high resolution, the Fireflies can gather data across more than 150 spectral bands, allowing them to detect subtle changes in chemical compositions, vegetation health, water quality, and even atmospheric conditions with unmatched accuracy.
Unlike traditional Earth observation satellites, Firefly’s narrow band sensors uncover hidden patterns and anomalies that are essential for applications ranging from agriculture to climate action, the statement read.
The company added that the satellites have a 40-kilometer swath width and a daily revisit capability, enabling consistent monitoring of vast areas and ensuring that no critical event goes unnoticed.
Orbiting in a sun-synchronous orbit at roughly 550 kilometers, the Fireflies will form the cornerstone of Pixxel’s mission to build a “health monitor for the planet”.
Prior to this, Pixxel has already launched three successful demo hyperspectral satellites before this launch and raised $95 million in funding.
As part of its larger mission, Pixxel said it plans to integrate hyperspectral data with machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, further amplifying the impact of Earth Observation technology.
