Firefly Constellation

Firefly Constellation: 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.

• About: Satellites launched via SpaceX's Transporter-12 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

o Three additional Firefly satellites to be launched in Q2 2025.

• Significance of Firefly Constellation: World's highest-resolution hyperspectral satellites with 5-metre resolution, surpassing the 30-metre standard.

o Capable of capturing data across 150+ spectral bands, detecting chemical compositions, vegetation health, water quality, and atmospheric conditions.

o Features a 40-kilometre swathe width and daily revisit capability for consistent global coverage.

• Impact of Hyperspectral Imaging: Applications in agriculture, climate action, resource management, deforestation monitoring, ocean pollution detection, and defence.