Pixxel Honeybee Zero (HB0)
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Pixxel Honeybee Zero (HB0) is a VSWIR hyperspectral technology demonstrator operated by Pixxel, planned for launch in 2026. HB0 serves as the precursor mission to the Pixxel Honeybee Phase 1 constellation, designed to validate the Honeybee sensor architecture including SWIR coverage not present on the earlier Firefly series.
HB0 carries Pixxel's Honeybee VSWIR hyperspectral imager. The operator engineering documentation reports a spectral range of 400-2500 nm;[^pixxel-docs-tech-demo] a support article cites 400-2550 nm and eoPortal states 470-2500 nm.[^eoportal-pixxel] Approximately 450 spectral bands are specified. Spatial resolution is 8 m with a 5 km swath -- a narrower swath than the 40 km VNIR Firefly imager, reflecting the VSWIR architecture trade-off. The planned orbit is Sun-synchronous at 500-550 km altitude, 97.45 degree inclination, with a 10:00-11:00 local solar time equatorial crossing. Off-nadir capability is stated at up to 30 degrees (20 degrees recommended for optimal quality).[^pixxel-docs-tech-demo] Single-satellite revisit is estimated at 14-21 days.
Planned launch was originally stated as Q1 2026 in the Pixxel documentation portal; according to community aggregators as of 2026-05-24, the schedule has shifted to Q2-Q3 2026.[^eoportal-pixxel] No launch has been announced as of the research date. The satellite bus and launch vehicle have not been publicly disclosed. HB0 is distinct from the Firefly series: it adds SWIR imaging (1000-2500 nm) and carries a separate sensor design at larger ground sampling distance.