Pixxel’s Firefly Satellites Begin Hyperspectral Imaging Operations
Pixxel has announced that its three Firefly satellites, launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 in January 2025, have successfully begun capturing and transmitting hyperspectral images. The satellites are producing imagery with a 5-meter resolution across more than 150 spectral bands and a 40 km swath width.
The first images released by Pixxel include three locations:
River Ganga, India (Firefly 3): The image captures the river’s braided channels, floodplains, and adjacent farmland, highlighting variations in soil moisture and vegetation health.
Saloum River Delta, Senegal (Firefly 2): The data from this region provides insights into changing coastlines, salinity levels, and fishery resources.
Sundarbans, India (Firefly 1): The satellite imagery focuses on mangrove forests, supporting research on forest health and conservation planning.
Pixxel states that the hyperspectral data from the Firefly satellites can be applied to various industries. Agriculture operators can monitor crop conditions, climate agencies can track environmental changes such as emissions and deforestation, and mining companies can use spectral analysis for resource exploration and environmental monitoring. Disaster response teams may also utilize the data for damage assessment following natural disasters.
“The images from Firefly offer detailed insights that can support industries in making informed decisions,” said Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Pixxel.
Pixxel has ongoing partnerships with organizations such as NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) as part of its efforts to advance hyperspectral Earth observation technology. The company plans to deploy three additional Firefly satellites before mid-2025, with the goal of establishing a full-scale hyperspectral satellite constellation by 2026.