Hydra thermal satellites
Aistech's small satellites carrying a multispectral thermal telescope that measures surface temperature at high resolution, for watching wildfires, water, crops and activity at industrial and strategic sites.
Why it matters
Heat reveals activity that ordinary cameras miss: which factories are running, where fires start, and which crops are short of water. Commercial high-resolution thermal data is still scarce.
How the technology works
A telescope senses infrared light emitted by the ground, which tracks temperature, in several bands. Hydra 2, the first commercial satellite with this telescope, launched on SpaceX's Twilight rideshare in January 2026.
Aistech plans six launches in 2026 and 48 satellites from 2027 to 2030.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction