Earth Observation Data
Eyes in Orbit, Guardians of Earth
Earth observation satellites orbit Earth to gather data on its surface, atmosphere, and oceans using advanced sensors. They aid in weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, disaster management, agriculture, and urban planning. Notable examples include ALOS and Pixxel's Firefly, Synspective's StriX—tools that help us understand and manage our world effectively from space.
Japan's ALOS-2
ALOS-2, or Daichi-2, is a Japanese Earth observation satellite launched in 2014 by JAXA. Using L-band SAR (PALSAR-2), it monitors disasters, forests, agriculture, and infrastructure in all weather. Asterra utilizes it to detect underground water pipe leaks for utilities.
Argentina's SAOCOM
SAOCOM 1A and 1B of Argentina are Earth observation satellites under the SAOCOM mission. Using L-band SAR, they monitor natural disasters, agriculture, and environmental changes. Asterra utilizes these to detect underground water pipe leaks for utilities. (Asterra)
Pixxel's Firefly
Pixxel’s Firefly satellites are a commercial constellation of high‑resolution hyperspectral Earth observation spacecraft designed to capture and deliver rich, actionable data about the planet that traditional satellites cannot provide. They are operated by Pixxel, a US–India space technology company focused on advanced Earth observation and climate intelligence. Each Firefly satellite collects data across over 135 spectral bands (hyperspectral imaging) — far more than traditional multispectral systems. This enables detection of subtle material and environmental signatures, such as vegetation stress, water quality changes, soil mineralogy, and chemical composition.
Unlike standard optical satellites (which capture a handful of broad wavelength bands), Firefly’s hyperspectral sensors detect hundreds of narrow spectral bands, revealing chemical and material properties that are invisible to other systems. This makes Firefly a powerful tool for: Climate action and environmental protection, Agricultural optimization and food security, Natural resource monitoring, and Urban and infrastructure risk assessment.
Synspective's StriX
StriX is a series of small, commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites developed by Synspective to provide all‑weather, day‑and‑night Earth observation data at global scale.
Depending on imaging mode, StriX can capture: Sub‑meter to multiple meter resolution imagery. Wide swaths covering tens of kilometers per pass — often 2× to 10× larger area than comparable small SAR satellites. Unlike optical satellites, SAR actively emits radar and captures reflections, so StriX can see through clouds, rain, and darkness — perfect for disaster response and continuous monitoring. StriX blends high performance, cost efficiency, and scalability, making it a leading commercial SAR platform. Its ability to deliver usable radar data day and night, regardless of weather, sets it apart from optical systems and enables better situational awareness for governments, commercial sectors, and sustainability projects alike. StriX is not just a satellite — it’s a scalable Earth‑observation engine. With its compact size, powerful radar, flexible imaging modes, and global constellation strategy, StriX offers critical intelligence for disaster resilience, urban management, environmental tracking, and strategic monitoring around the world