Mission one
Blue Moon
TELESCOPE: Hibiscus LAUNCH DATE: Q1 2027 DOMAIN: Space
000 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds
FUNDED ANDSUPPORTED BY
Mission Details
At SuperSharp, we are excited to announce our groundbreaking Thermal InfraRed (TIR) mission, Blue Moon. As part of the Satlantis group, we have carefully selected Kongsberg NanoAvionics’s MP42 microsatellite platform to carry our flagship instrument, HIBISCUS — an advanced 80kg payload designed to redefine Earth observation.
Scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2027 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare service, Blue Moon represents a major leap forward in satellite imaging. Unlike conventional Earth observation satellites, our mission will capture images both day and night, unlocking unprecedented insights into our planet’s thermal landscape. HIBISCUS is capable of acquiring Long-Wave InfraRed (LWIR) imagery at an impressive spatial resolution of three metres, providing vital data to support applications in climate resilience — such as urban heat monitoring — and national security. Moreover, we aim to open doors for entirely new applications in these fields.
This milestone marks our first satellite mission, made possible through the funding and support of the UK Space Agency’s NSIP Programme. We are also deeply grateful for the invaluable support of institutional partners, particularly the University of Cambridge and NanoAvionics, a subsidiary of the Kongsberg group, whose contributions are essential to the success of this mission.
With Blue Moon, we are setting new standards for infrared satellite technology, and we look forward to delivering impactful data that will drive innovation in Earth observation.
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