What constellr does

constellr GmbH is a Munich-headquartered space-tech company founded in 2020 as a Fraunhofer spinout that builds and operates the HiVE (High-Precision Versatile Ecosphere) constellation of thermal infrared microsatellites. Two satellites, SkyBee-1 (launched January 2025) and SkyBee-2 (launched June 2025), are currently in orbit delivering 30-meter native resolution Land Surface Temperature measurements (sharpened to 10 meters via LSTzoom), with day-and-night imaging, ±1-2K radiometric accuracy, and sub-daily revisit over priority regions. Its core technical differentiator is a first-of-its-kind cryocooled thermal payload deployed on a microsatellite platform, combined with patent-protected sensor fusion across thermal, visible/near-infrared, and atmospheric bands. Data products include LSTprecision (high-precision absolute temperature monitoring), LSTfusion (cloud-free daily modelling), and LSTzoom (10-meter sharpened layer).

The company monetizes thermal intelligence through a Constellation-as-a-Service (CaaS) subscription model, on-demand strategic tasking services for defense and intelligence customers, and sale of standardized data products via the UP42 Earth observation marketplace. Distribution is hybrid: direct enterprise sales to European defense ministries, intelligence services, coast guards, and crisis-response authorities, complemented by channel partnerships including UP42 (global marketplace), SKY Perfect JSAT (exclusive Japan distributor), and the Airbus Defence and Space-led five-company sovereign space intelligence consortium. Constellr is one of four initial German NewSpace partners inside the Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture tied to a €1.7B German Ministry of Defence contract. Total funding stands at €75 million following a €37M Series A in February 2026, with a roadmap to scale the constellation to approximately 30 satellites by 2030 and deliver sub-5-meter resolution next-generation platforms.

Key customer segments are concentrated in defense and security (national-security monitoring, maritime domain awareness, critical-infrastructure verification), followed by urban planning and climate offices, industrial and infrastructure operators (airports, utilities), and agriculture/water authorities. ESA Copernicus Contributing Mission status (achieved 2023) and multi-year contracts with the European Commission and German Space Agency (DLR) provide regulatory validation. The company has 51-100 employees, offices in Munich, Freiburg, Berlin, Brussels, Toulouse, and Washington D.C., and wholly-owned subsidiaries in Belgium, France, and the United States to support regional market access.

Name

constellr

Legal name

constellr GmbH

Website

https://constellr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

constellr is a Munich-based Fraunhofer spinout (founded 2020) operating the HiVE thermal infrared satellite constellation — currently two satellites in orbit — to deliver decision-grade Land Surface Temperature intelligence for European defense, intelligence, maritime, agriculture, and infrastructure customers via a Constellation-as-a-Service model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Earth Observation Satellite Services

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)

Keywords

• Thermal infrared imaging
• Satellite constellation services
• Earth observation data
• Land surface temperature
• Space-based intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Constellation-as-a-Service (CaaS): On-demand satellite data and tasking services subscription model allowing institutional clients to access thermal intelligence without owning satellite infrastructure. Customers pay for access to tasking, downlink, and processed data products.
2. Thermal Data Products: Sale of specific data products including LSTfusion, LSTprecision, and LSTzoom for applications in defense, agriculture, urban planning, and industrial monitoring. Data accessible via UP42 marketplace platform.
3. Strategic Intelligence Services: Custom tasking and analysis services for defense and intelligence customers requiring specific geographic coverage or specialized thermal analysis for strategic operations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

constellr designs, builds, and operates the HiVE (High-Precision Versatile Ecosphere) microsatellite constellation — currently SkyBee-1 and SkyBee-2 — equipped with cryocooled long-wave infrared sensors that capture Land Surface Temperature at 30m native resolution (sharpened to 10m) with ±1-2K absolute accuracy and day-and-night revisit. The company sells three thermal data products (LSTprecision, LSTfusion, LSTzoom) and a Constellation-as-a-Service (CaaS) subscription that lets defense, government, and commercial customers task satellites and receive processed thermal intelligence without owning infrastructure.

Product overview

constellr operates the HiVE (High-Precision Versatile Ecosphere) constellation—a system of thermal infrared satellites (SkyBee-1 and SkyBee-2) delivering high-precision Land Surface Temperature measurements from space. The product portfolio includes three data products: LSTprecision for high-precision temperature monitoring, LSTfusion for cloud-free daily modeling, and LSTzoom for detailed 10m spatial analysis. All products are delivered via Constellation-as-a-Service (CaaS) model, providing on-demand access without infrastructure ownership. The satellites deliver 30m native resolution (sharpened to 10m), with day-and-night capability and sub-daily revisit for priority regions. The system is validated by ESA and the European Commission as a Copernicus Contributing Mission partner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HiVE (High-precision Versatile Ecosphere): constellr's microsatellite constellation designed for absolute temperature monitoring from space, comprising SkyBee-1 and SkyBee-2 satellites delivering high-resolution thermal data.
• LSTprecision
• LSTfusion
• LSTzoom

Products and services

• HiVE (High-Precision Versatile Ecosphere) Constellation The HiVE (High-Precision Versatile Ecosphere) microsatellite constellation is constellr's core product: a system of thermal infrared satellites delivering high-resolution Land Surface Temperature measurements at 30m native resolution (sharpened to 10m), ±1-2K calibrated accuracy, day-and-night imaging, and 1.5-day average revisit. It currently comprises SkyBee-1 and SkyBee-2 and is planned to expand to ~30 satellites by 2030.
• Constellation-as-a-Service (CaaS) A dual-use subscription service that allows institutional clients to access satellite data and secure tasking services on demand without owning infrastructure. Provides government, intelligence, and critical infrastructure customers with sovereign-grade thermal intelligence including downlink, processing, and delivery of LST products.
• LSTprecision High-precision, frequently updated Land Surface Temperature product at 30m resolution for reliable absolute temperature monitoring across target regions. Delivered through CaaS and via the UP42 marketplace.
• LSTfusion Cloud-free, modelled daily Land Surface Temperature product at 30m resolution that combines constellr measurements with other sources to deliver continuity at scale. Delivered through CaaS and via the UP42 marketplace.
• LSTzoom Higher sharpness thermal layer designed to support detailed local analysis with 10m spatial detail resolution for targeted interventions and building-level analysis. Delivered through CaaS and via the UP42 marketplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10x increase in sales pipeline since entering defense market
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, consortium partner, core and partner.

• Airbus Defence and SpaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Five-company sovereign space intelligence consortium with Airbus as prime contractor and system integrator. Addresses growing governmental demand for sovereign, end-to-end space-based surveillance capabilities independent of non-European dependencies. constellr contributes thermal infrared satellite systems.
• Rohde & Schwarzconsortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Consortium partner providing high-performance RF components, signal processing technologies, and radar antenna systems. World-class RF technology for security applications.
• Orbintconsortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Consortium partner bringing geolocation methods, data processing algorithms, and system concept contributions. NewSpace company with UniBw M DNA.
• High Performance Space Structure Systems (HPS)consortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Consortium partner delivering space-qualified deployable mesh reflector antennas optimized for high-frequency Earth observation and communication payloads.
• Rheinmetall ICEYE Space SolutionsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Joint venture between Rheinmetall and ICEYE to develop space-based ISR capabilities for Germany. constellr is one of four initial German NewSpace partners (alongside Reflex Aerospace, OroraTech, LiveEO) for €1.7B German Ministry of Defence contract to develop and operate SAR satellite constellation.
• Reflex Aerospaceconsortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026German NewSpace company and initial partner in Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture.
• OroraTechconsortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026German NewSpace company and initial partner in Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture.
• LiveEOconsortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026German NewSpace company and initial partner in Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture.
• UP42coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 February 2026Marketplace partnership making constellr's high-precision thermal intelligence available through UP42's Earth observation platform. Enables scalable, standardized access for security, infrastructure, industrial monitoring, and climate resilience users.
• SKY Perfect JSATcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 February 2026Commercial partnership with Japan's premier space solutions provider for sales of high-resolution thermal infrared satellite data in Japan. First private company in Japan to commercially deliver such data. Leverages SKY Perfect JSAT's extensive customer base and space solutions expertise.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopernicus Contributing Mission status achieved in 2023. ESA InCubed programme support. ESA Third Party Mission framework for scientific research access. Ventures and Financing Office support for constellation development.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year contract with European Commission as part of Copernicus programme. Validation of technology for government and defence use.
• German Space Agency (DLR)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year Earth Observation research contract. DLR logo appears on mission partners section.
• Fraunhofer SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding organization as Fraunhofer spinout in 2020. Fraunhofer Technologie-Transfer Fonds is investor. Continued partnership in technology development.
• J-SAT InternationalpartnerTechnology or IntegrationMission partner listed on constellr website.
• GAF AGpartnerTechnology or IntegrationGerman aerospace company and mission partner.
• Copernicus ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA Copernicus Contributing Mission status. European Union's Earth observation programme providing framework for thermal data integration.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OroraTech: Munich-based NewSpace company building a thermal infrared satellite constellation for wildfire detection and industrial monitoring. Direct peer — also a German thermal EO startup co-partnered with constellr in the Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture.
• ICEYE: Helsinki/Newspace SAR satellite operator and the SAR lead in the same Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture as constellr. Closely comparable as a small-satellite EO company selling data products to defense and government customers via constellation-as-a-service.

Emerging players

• Capella Space: US-based SAR satellite operator providing high-resolution imagery to defense and intelligence customers. Comparable in business model (constellation-as-a-service, defense-led GTM) and serves as adjacent EO modality competitor to constellr's thermal IR.
• LiveEO: Berlin-based NewSpace company using satellite data (SAR, optical) for infrastructure and environmental monitoring. Co-partner with constellr in the Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions joint venture and comparable as a German EO analytics startup addressing infrastructure and defense-adjacent verticals.
• Satellogic: Public EO company building a constellation of sub-meter multispectral satellites for defense, agriculture, and government customers. Comparable as an emerging low-cost constellation operator pursuing similar constellation-as-a-service commercial and defense GTM.
• Synspective: Tokyo-based SAR satellite operator providing infrastructure monitoring and defense solutions across Asia. Comparable as a national-champion EO startup with a similar constellation expansion roadmap and dual-use defense/commercial GTM in Japan.

Broad incumbents

• Planet Labs: Public commercial EO leader operating the largest fleet of Earth observation satellites (optical + SAR partners). Comparable as a broad EO incumbent whose daily-revisit imagery competes for the same defense, agriculture, and infrastructure use cases as constellr.
• BlackSky: Public EO company providing high-cadence optical and SAR analytics to defense, intelligence, and commercial customers. Comparable in tasking-on-demand model and defense focus, though optically led rather than thermal.
• Maxar Technologies: Large incumbent satellite imaging and space infrastructure provider serving US/allied defense and intelligence agencies. Comparable as a prime contractor for sovereign ISR programs that constellr complements with its thermal layer.
• Airbus Defence and Space: European aerospace prime and constellr's consortium lead for sovereign space intelligence. Comparable as both a partner and a potential competitor-adjacent incumbent whose existing EO and defense satellite portfolio overlaps with constellr's addressable market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/constellr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@constellr

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors22 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about constellr