missions

Pixxel Firefly-3

Compiled from public sources on 2026-05-24. Not independently verified by Pixxel.

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Missions → Pixxel Firefly-2 (Operational)

Pixxel Firefly-3 (FFLY-3) is the third satellite in Pixxel's Firefly Phase 1 hyperspectral constellation. It was launched on 14 January 2025 alongside Firefly-1 and Firefly-2 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-12 rideshare from Vandenberg SFB, integrated by Exolaunch.^[1] The satellite operates in a Sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 550 km altitude, 97.65-degree inclination, with a 10:00-11:00 AM local solar time equator crossing.^[2]

The Firefly hyperspectral imager covers a spectral range cited as 450-900 nm by the operator^[2] and 470-850 nm by eoPortal^[3]; the operator-published figure is used here. Band count is reported as 135+ in Pixxel's six-month in-orbit status report^[4] and as 150 by Gunter's Space Page^[5]; the operator figure of 135+ is the operationally confirmed value. Spatial resolution is 5 m, swath width 40 km, and single-satellite revisit is 17 days.^[2] With all six Phase 1 satellites operational, the constellation achieves approximately 24-hour global revisit.^[4]

Firefly-3 has a mass of approximately 60 kg and is built on Pixxel's proprietary Firefly Bus. No per-satellite capability or orbital differences within the batch have been reported. Commissioning was completed and the satellite was operational as of mid-2025.^[4]

Methodology	Evidence class	Source
Hyperspectral imaging	Demonstrated (in-orbit)	Pixxel six-month status report^[4]

Full specification

All fields

current status	Operational
operator	Pixxel
platform	Pixxel Firefly Bus
launch vehicle	SpaceX Transporter Smallsat Rideshare Programme
Launched	2025-01-14
orbit type	Sun-synchronous, approximately 550 km, 97.65 degree inclination, 10:00-11:00 local solar time equator crossing
revisit days	17
tasking supported	Yes
Last updated	2026-05-24
claim status	Unclaimed

Supply chain position

carries instrument Pixxel Firefly hyperspectral imager

built on platform Pixxel Firefly Bus

operated by Pixxel

launched on SpaceX Transporter Smallsat Rideshare Programme

produces data product Pixxel Firefly hyperspectral imagery

same brand group as Pixxel Firefly-4

same brand group as Pixxel Firefly-2

Sources

[1]Pixxel launches first three Firefly hyperspectral satellites on Transporter-12, Pixxeloperator press2026-05-24
[2]Six Months in Orbit: Firefly Status Check, Pixxeloperator press2026-05-24
[3]Firefly: World's Highest-Resolution Hyperspectral Satellites, Pixxeloperator marketing2026-05-24
[4]Firefly 1 to 6, Gunter's Space Pagecommunity2026-05-24
[5]Pixxel Hyperspectral Imaging Constellation, eoPortalcommunity2026-05-24

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/missions/pixxel-firefly-3 Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →

How to cite this page

Plain text

Pixxel Firefly-3. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V., last reviewed 2026-05-24. https://eo-atlas.org/missions/pixxel-firefly-3 (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:missions:pixxel-firefly-3,
  title = {Pixxel Firefly-3},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last reviewed 2026-05-24. CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/missions/pixxel-firefly-3}
}