Context: Recently, Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based space technology company backed by Google and building the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation, has successfully launched the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation.

• First three satellites of the Firefly constellation were successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. 

• Firefly is Pixxel’s flagship Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) satellite constellation, featuring six of the highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites to date.

About Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) Satellites

• HSI analyses a wide spectrum of light instead of just assigning primary colours (red, green, blue) to each pixel, effectively spectrally fingerprinting the Earth.

• HSI provide more information on what is imaged. For instance, while a typical satellite can identify a forest from space, HSI can distinguish between different types of trees and determine health of each individual tree.

About Fireflies Constellation

• The Firefly constellation marks a watershed moment in India’s space journey (Earth Observation) as the nation’s first commercial satellite constellation.

• The Fireflies, the world’s highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites, provide unmatched precision in monitoring the planet and set a new standard for hyperspectral imaging.

• Unlike traditional Earth observation satellites that rely on broader spectral bands, Firefly’s narrowband sensors reveal hidden patterns and anomalies critical for applications ranging from agriculture to climate action. 

About Satellite Constellation

• It is a network of identical artificial satellites with the same purpose and shared control, designed to work as a system. 

• They communicate with global ground stations and, at times, interconnect to complement each other’s functions.

• Starlink, with 2,146 active satellites, is the largest satellite constellation. 

• Types: Based on orbital altitude there are three types: 

• Geostationary orbit (GEO):  At an altitude of 36,000 km, it synchronizes with Earth's rotation. 

• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): At altitude of 5,000 to 20,000 km, traditionally serving navigation purposes. 

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO): At altitude of 500 to 1,200 km, primarily support research, telecommunication and Earth Observation needs.