HOTSAT-1 Provides Heat Maps of the Earth, Revolutionizes Climate Monitoring With Thermal Imaging

On October 6, UK-based thermal imagery startup SatVu released groundbreaking images of the Earth captured by its new satellite HOTSAT-1. The images reveal the heat variations across the surface of the planet with a remarkable resolution.

Breakthrough in Thermal Imaging

Among the inaugural captures of the satellite include a train traversing through Chicago's main railway line and the precisely mapped flame front of wildfires that devastated Canada's Northwest Territories in June. With such precise resolution, this Earth-observing satellite has the potential to help firefighters monitor the progression of fire fronts in critical areas, especially near populated regions.

The high-resolution images are sent as part of the initial batch of releases which showcase various thermal signatures. According to Tobias Reinicke, chief technical officer and co-founder of SatVu, the first batch of images surpassed the expectations of the company.

Unlike other satellites which gather thermal data at coarse resolutions of 100 meters (328 feet), 500 meters (1,640 feet), or 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), HOTSAT-1 collects data at a resolution of 33 feet (10 meters). Observing temperature differences on the surface of the Earth with such accuracy opens up a multitude of opportunities. The data can be used by city planners to understand how heat is dissipated from pipelines, factories, and buildings. Understanding these thermal dynamics can lead to the development of infrastructures with maximized energy efficiency, contributing to the battle against climate change.

After securing $37.1 million in venture capital funding, SatVu aims to launch a second satellite next year. In the future, the company also plans to create a constellation of 8 to 10 satellites which will enable scientists, city planners, and other stakeholders to monitor the daily changes in the surface temperature of the Earth.

World's Thermometer

HOTSAT-1 is a pathfinder mission built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) for SatVu's satellite constellation. It was named in homage to its unique imaging capabilities with a low-cost high resolution mid-wave infrared (MWIR) detector.

On June 12, the space-enabled climate technology was launched with a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Dubbed as the "world's thermometer," HOTSAT-1 was designed to map the energy efficiency of buildings from space with the goal of providing valuable and unique insight into economic activity for a range of industries.

Satellites usually observe the surface of the Earth with the use of visible light which lies within the range of human vision. Recently, experts deploy synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellations to capture images of Earth's surface even at night and through dense clouds. Until now, no technology can provide spatial differences in temperature and its fluctuations throughout the day.

Capturing heat from space is more challenging than SAR or visible light imaging because of the longer wavelength of the signal. It requires slow shutter speeds to obtain accurate temperature data. Since satellites such as HOTSAT-1 travel at a speed of 7 kilometers per second (4.4 miles per second), precise satellite pointing is needed in order to avoid blurry images.