Constellr Skybee-1 Satellite Just Took The Most Detailed Thermal Image Of Tokyo [PHOTO]

Originally launched on 14 January 2025, the Constellr Skybee-1 released a first-light picture of Tokyo from space. This image uses temperature to map out the landscape of Tokyo, giving an idea of how activities in the region are carried out.

The Constellr Skybee-1 Putting Thermal Intelligence To Good Use

In a press release on 17 March 2025, Constellr a German space startup firm announced that their Skybee-1 satellite took a nighttime image of Tokyo. This image showed in-depth details of the nighttime heat distribution of the region from buildings to the waterways.

The firm calls this image “a milestone in high-precision thermal monitoring” considering the level of detail it provides from low-Earth orbit (LEO). To take this image, the Skybee-1 satellite had to rely on its custom-developed thermal long-wave infrared instrument, which features cryocooling technology.

From the image, it is possible to buildings, industrial areas, waterways, and greenery from their temperature outputs. This will help to shed more light on how various aspects of the environment contribute to “urban heat or benefit from cooling initiatives.”

Before taking this image, thermal imaging technology in space has been unable to identify the various elements of an environment and determine how they contribute to urban heat. Max Gulde Constellr CEO says that being able to access such heat data is “tremendously important when it comes to predictive maintenance and city planning.”

Constellr aims to expand its satellite constellation, of which the Skybee-1 is the first entry. With the expansion of this constellation, the firms hope to offer “continuous, high-frequency monitoring of global temperature patterns, supporting data-driven decision-making in urban planning and climate resilience.”

The Constellr Skybee-1 Satellite Constellation Aims To Better Earth’s Climate

Regarding the Constellr Skybee-1 first-light image of Tokyo, Peggy Fischer had a thing or two to say. Peggy is the Mission Manager of ESA Third Party Missions (TPMs) and Copernicus Contributing Missions (CCMs).

She says that “SkyBee-1’s first light over Tokyo at night marks an exciting milestone for thermal Earth observation.” She adds that she and her teams will be glad to “work with constellr and explore how their innovative data can enhance existing Earth observation capabilities and provide new insights for sustainable resource management.”

This new image will aid regions to better understand the heat distribution in their environments. Giuseppe Borghi, Head of the ESA Φ-lab division says that the insight from the Skybee-1 satellite image of Tokyo “highlights the role of both natural and built environments in shaping urban temperatures, paving the way for smarter, more sustainable resource management.”

With plans to expand its constellation, Constellr aims to launch another satellite into orbit in the summer of 2025. By expanding its constellation Constellr will be able to thermally image more regions hence giving insight into pressing issues like climate change.