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Hyperspectral Imaging

TECH 15 in index

Imaging across hundreds of narrow, contiguous spectral bands so each pixel has a full reflectance spectrum — enabling material identification.

DEFINITION

Hyperspectral imaging captures hundreds of narrow, contiguous spectral bands per pixel, building up a detailed reflectance spectrum that uniquely identifies the materials in a scene. Where multispectral imaging captures a handful of broad bands (red, green, blue, NIR), hyperspectral resolves the chemistry.

WHY IT MATTERS

Hyperspectral lets you do classification problems that look impossible from satellite: detect methane plumes, identify crop stress, map mineral composition, distinguish ship cargo, find narcotics-precursor plant species. It's a wave of capability that's just becoming commercially mature.

WHERE YOU'LL SEE IT
  • Methane and CO₂ leak detection
  • Precision agriculture (crop stress, disease)
  • Mining and mineral exploration
  • Defense material identification

Companies working with Hyperspectral Imaging

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Chang Guang Satellite Technology logo
Chang Guang Satellite Technology
OPERATING
CHN EST. 2014

Manufactures and operates the Jilin-1 constellation of over 100 optical remote sensing satellites and provides geospatial data products and services

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
Changchun, China
EXPLORE
Descartes Labs logo
Descartes Labs
OPERATING
USA EST. 2014

Builds geospatial data analytics platforms that process satellite imagery at scale for commodity forecasting, resource exploration, and defense intelligence

Geospatial Intelligence & AnalyticsSpace Software & Mission Tools
Santa Fe, New Mexico
EXPLORE
Esper Satellite Imagery logo
Esper Satellite Imagery
OPERATING
AUS EST. 2019

Builds and operates hyperspectral imaging microsatellites for mineral exploration, agriculture, and defense applications

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
Melbourne, Australia
EXPLORE
GHGSat logo
GHGSat
OPERATING
CAN EST. 2011

Operates a constellation of high-resolution satellites that detect and measure methane and CO2 emissions from individual industrial facilities

Earth Observation & Remote SensingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
Montreal, Canada
EXPLORE
ISRO logo
ISRO
OPERATING
IND EST. 1969

India's national space agency developing launch vehicles, satellites, and interplanetary missions for societal benefit

Launch ServicesSatellite CommunicationsEarth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite Manufacturing
Bengaluru, India
EXPLORE
Loft Orbital logo
Loft Orbital
OPERATING
USA EST. 2017

Operates a satellite-as-a-service platform that integrates, deploys, and operates customer payloads and AI applications on standardized LEO spacecraft

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingSpace Software & Mission Tools
San Francisco, California
EXPLORE
NASA logo
NASA
OPERATING
USA EST. 1958

Conducts civilian space exploration, aeronautics research, and space science across human spaceflight, robotic missions, and Earth observation programs

Launch ServicesEarth Observation & Remote SensingSpace Stations & HabitatsPlanetary Exploration
Washington, District of Columbia
EXPLORE
NorthStar Earth & Space logo
NorthStar Earth & Space
OPERATING
CAN EST. 2015

Operates a space-based satellite constellation providing space domain awareness services and Earth observation data for environmental monitoring

Earth Observation & Remote SensingGeospatial Intelligence & AnalyticsSpace Domain Awareness
Montreal, Canada
EXPLORE
OHB SE logo
OHB SE
OPERATING
DEU EST. 1981

Develops and manufactures satellite systems for navigation, Earth observation, telecommunications, and reconnaissance, and produces aerospace structures and launcher components

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingSatellite Components & Subsystems
Bremen, Germany
EXPLORE
Orbital Sidekick logo
Orbital Sidekick
OPERATING
USA EST. 2016

Operates a constellation of hyperspectral imaging satellites and delivers spectral intelligence for energy, mining, agriculture, and defense monitoring

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
San Francisco, California
EXPLORE
Orbitworks logo
Orbitworks
OPERATING
ARE EST. 2024

Manufactures and integrates modular satellites up to 500 kg from Abu Dhabi, offering physical, virtual, and on-demand space missions for government and commercial customers

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
EXPLORE
Pixxel logo
Pixxel
OPERATING
USA EST. 2019

Operates a hyperspectral Earth observation satellite constellation and analytics platform for agriculture, energy, environment, and mining

Earth Observation & Remote SensingSatellite ManufacturingGeospatial Intelligence & Analytics
El Segundo, California
EXPLORE
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