Satellites & Imagery

Pixxel operates a growing constellation of hyperspectral Earth observation satellites designed to deliver high-resolution spectral intelligence across visible and infrared wavelengths. The constellation roadmap currently includes Firefly, which is operational today, and Honeybee, which will expand coverage into the shortwave infrared spectrum in upcoming phases.

The table below provides a comprehensive comparison of the key technical specifications and operational parameters for both constellations:

For more details, please refer to the Link.

Firefly is Pixxel’s operational hyperspectral constellation, delivering high-resolution VNIR (Visible–Near Infrared) imagery designed for frequent global monitoring.

The Firefly sensors provide hyperspectral imagery across 135 spectral bands spanning the 470–900 nm range, at a 5.4-meter Ground Sample Distance (GSD). Users can select up to 45 bands per capture, enabling application-specific spectral optimization.

Mission Characteristics

For more details, please refer to the Link.

The Honeybee constellation, planned for future launch, will have expanded hyperspectral coverage from visible to shortwave infrared. The sensor will be equipped to provide hyperspectral imagery of ~250 bands total in the 470-2500 nm range at a GSD of 5 meters.

Mission Characteristics 

For more details, please refer to the Link.

Honeybee Zero (HB0), planned for launch in 2027, will have expanded hyperspectral coverage from visible to shortwave infrared. The sensor will be equipped to provide hyperspectral imagery of ~450 bands total in the 400-2550 nm range at a GSD of 8 meters.

Mission Characteristics

For more details, please refer to the Link.

Pixxel launched two primary tech demo satellites: D2 and Shakuntala. Each satellite has distinct capabilities tailored for different spectral ranges. They were aimed to have a coarser spatial resolution and prototype data quality—it's more an 'art of the possible' thing; our Firefly commercial data are significantly more detailed and of high quality.

The tech demo 4 is a SWIR prototype satellite that is to be launched soon.

For more details, please feel free to refer to our Product Document.

Firefly imagery is sampled at 5.4 m ground sample distance (GSD). Effective ground resolved distance (GRD) may be coarser than the GSD and can vary by satellite, atmospheric conditions, processing state, and capture mode. Customers with resolution-critical requirements should contact Pixxel directly for current performance data before procurement

Pixxel offers the following imagery product levels:

If you require L1C or L1B data, please contact support@pixxel.space to request access.

piSOFIT is Pixxel’s customized implementation of NASA JPL’s open-source ISOFIT (Imaging Spectrometer Optimal Fitting) model, optimized for Firefly and Honeybee hyperspectral data.

Methodology

• Radiative Transfer Modeling: piSOFIT uses a neural-network-based MODTRAN emulator derived from 6S to model the interaction of solar radiation with the atmosphere and Earth’s surface.

• Optimal Estimation Inversion: The workflow iteratively adjusts atmospheric parameters (e.g., water vapor, aerosols) and surface reflectance to minimize residuals between observed at-sensor radiance and modeled radiance using a Levenberg-Marquardt optimization approach.

• Bayesian Priors & Uncertainty Quantification: Prior information about atmospheric and surface conditions is incorporated into the inversion, providing improved retrieval stability and per-pixel uncertainty estimates.

• Superpixel Segmentation & Empirical Refinement: piSOFIT segments images into spectrally similar superpixels, solves atmospheric parameters at the superpixel level, and applies an empirical line adjustment to refine surface reflectance for each pixel.

For more technical details, visit the Isofit documentation.

All files in the delivery follow a consistent naming pattern:

XXnn_YYYYMMDD_aaabbccc_imageID_LnX.<filetype>

Where:

• XXnn: Satellite identifier (e.g., FF01 for Firefly 1)
• YYYYMMDD: Acquisition date (first instance) and product creation date (second instance).
• aaa: Average spatial resolution
• bb: Reserved
• ccc: Number of spectral bands in the delivered image.
• imageID: Unique six-digit image identifier.
• LnX: Processing level (e.g. L1C, L2A)
• filetype: File (e.g., .tif, .mask.tif, .geojson, .jpeg, .hdr, .xml).

Product Bundles:

1. L2A : Bottom of Atmosphere (BOA) reflectance (default option unless otherwise specified)
2. L1C : Top of Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance (available on request)
3. L1B : Geometrically Corrected Radiance (available on request)

Product Processing:

Image Delivery Package:

Pixxel imagery products are delivered as a structured set of files. Each product delivery includes:

• Primary Image Files: GeoTIFF containing the capture area at the specified processing level.

• Quality Mask File: GeoTIFF mask identifying cloud, cloud shadow, water, and other quality flags at

  bit-encoded layers.

• Footprint Polygon: GeoJSON file representing the exact acquisition footprint.

• Bounding Box Polygon: GeoJSON file providing the rectangular bounding extent of the acquisition.

• ENVI Header File: .hdr file providing band, wavelength, and projection information for direct hyperspectral processing.

• Thumbnail Preview: RGB JPEG quicklook for rapid scene visualization.

• ReadMe File: A text document describing package contents, filename conventions, quality mask bit

  definitions, and processing notes