Our Technology
HiVE microsatellites
Delivering insights never seen before.
Our state-of-the-art microsatellite constellation is the High-Precision Versatile Ecosphere (HiVE) monitoring mission. HiVE comprises a constellation of microsatellites called SkyBees. Each SkyBee is in the 120 kg class, and the satellites operate in sun-synchronous orbital planes. They orbit Earth at altitudes between 510 km and 590 km, with a target lifetime of five years per satellite. SkyBee-1 and SkyBee-2 have daytime overpass local times of approximately 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Their corresponding nighttime acquisitions occur approximately 12 hours later.
HiVE's aim is to deliver Land Surface Temperature data (LST) at a 1-day global temporal resolution, 30 m spatial resolution in the thermal infrared, and better than 2 K absolute temperature accuracy. HiVE aims at providing near-real-time temperature mapping across the planet. If it is visible from space, be it snow, crops, rooftops, or forest canopies, we can track its temperature. The comprehensive thermal intelligence we record acts as both a real-time data source and a continuously updated input for calibrating broader data environments.
Mission Snapshot
The HiVE mission is owned and operated by constellr and is deployed in orbit via ride-share procured from a third-party launch provider. The ground segment features multiple ground stations, mission planning, tasking, and constellation management functions, as well as User Request I/O and data processing and storage functions. The uniqueness of HiVE is in providing a quantum leap in payload cost efficiency, leveraging our patented virtual calibration technology. Employing thermally stabilized optical systems, cryo-cooled sensors, and a cooperative approach with existing space infrastructure, allows for measurement accuracy comparable to large satellites on a microsatellite platform.
Payload Overview
HiVE’s payload is composed of three main elements: a Thermal Infrared (TIR) Instrument, a Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) Instrument, and a Data Processing Unit (DPU). A Thermal Control System that includes a Heater Control Unit, a Focus Motor Control Unit, and a radiator, is also part of the payload. The total payload mass is 29.17 kg, margins at subsystem and component levels included.
The payload is designed as a push-frame imaging system, meaning that multiple spectral bands are consecutively recorded in a push-broom configuration while the field of view of the remote sensing instrument sweeps over the surface of Earth.
The payload is designed such that it can operate either in mapping mode, where continuous stripes are recorded, or in targeting mode, where specific targets are pre-selected and then recorded within the field-of-regard of the satellite.
TIR & VNIR instruments
The TIR instrument is HiVE's payload core.
The radiance measured by the TIR imager will be converted into an orthorectified Land Surface Temperature (LST) product. At an orbital altitude of 510 km, the imager achieves a Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) of 28.9 m and a swath width of 17.5 km. The TIR bands, their central wavelengths, and their respective bandwidths are listed in Table 1.
| Filter Number | Central Wavelength [µm] | Bandwidth [nm] |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 8.6 | 300 |
| 02 | 9.2 | 300 |
| 03 | 10.6 | 500 |
| 04 | 11.75 | 500 |
The TIR data are complemented by simultaneous VNIR radiance measurements, providing additional spectral and spatial context for each scene. At a nominal orbital altitude of 510 km, the VNIR camera has a swath width of 21 km. The data are binned onboard to Ground Sampling Distances (GSDs) of 10 m, 20 m, or 60 m, depending on the spectral band. Segmented spectral bandpass filters provide custom spectral channels designed to align with those of the Sentinel-2 satellites. The spectral characteristics of the bands and their spatial resolutions in the final orthorectified products are given in Table 2.
| Filter Number | Central Wavelength [µm] | Bandwidth [nm] | Targeted GSD [m] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 443 | 20 | 60 |
| 02 | 490 | 65 | 10 |
| 03 | 560 | 35 | 10 |
| 04 | 665 | 30 | 10 |
| 05 | 705 | 15 | 20 |
| 06 | 740 | 15 | 20 |
| 07 | 783 | 20 | 20 |
| 08 | 842 | 115 | 10 |
| 09 | 865 | 20 | 20 |
| 10 | 945 | 20 | 60 |
Thus, together, the VNIR and TIR instruments provide 4 thermal and 10 visible and near infrared bands. For an overview of the sensor specifications, see also Figure 3.
Cryocooler Sensor
The cryocooled infrared sensors are at the heart of delivering high-quality, high-resolution thermal data from space. Operating at temperatures around 70 Kelvin (-200°C), these sensors significantly reduce sensor noise, improve signal-to-noise ratios, and ensure minimal thermal drift over time. By cooling the Mercury-Cadmium-Telluride (MCT) detectors to such low temperatures, constellr’s satellites are capable of detecting subtle variations (< 0.1 K) in thermal energy that are invisible to other commercial thermal EO satellites.
Cryocooling technology enables constellr’s HiVE satellites to maintain temperature accuracy within 1–2 Kelvin, while offering a 30 m spatial resolution. This level of sensitivity and precision is crucial for applications such as monitoring crop health, managing urban heat islands, and assessing industrial energy efficiency, and civil security. The use of cryocooled sensors ensures that data remains consistent, accurate, and actionable over time.
Data Quality and Validation
The HiVE data quality is assessed by defined high standards for all Cal/Val activities. The HiVE Cal/Val activities are supported by ESA within the ESA programs InCubed and Copernicus Contributing Mission (CCM). This process begins with a proper characterization of the instruments in the lab and continues in space with a regular verification of the instrumental performances. Engineers monitor and correct for changes over time, detect faulty pixels, and adjust for geometric distortions using well-known landscapes and landmarks. Calibration draws on trusted ground reference sites for visible/near-infrared data and patented methods comparing thermal readings with reliable satellite temperature measurements, guaranteeing data remain precise and reliable throughout the mission.
Acquisition Scenarios
The HiVE constellation is primarily planned as a tasking-based mission with off-nadir pointing capabilities up to ± 30°. For 2025, this enables an average revisit time of 1.5 days with the first two satellites, and reaching sub-daily revisit with three satellites (2026+).
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