British thermal imaging startup SatVu announced June 29 it has begun commercial services with HotSat-2, marking a return to revenue-generating operations after its first satellite failed in low Earth orbit in 2023.
The company's debut spacecraft was lost in orbit last year, halting initial service plans. HotSat-2 is designed to capture high-resolution thermal imagery for applications including energy efficiency, infrastructure monitoring, and defense intelligence, according to the firm.
SatVu has not disclosed the exact launch date or orbital details for HotSat-2 beyond confirming it is now operational. The restart follows a period of satellite redesign and testing after the anomaly with the first unit.
The startup's thermal imaging capability sits in a niche between traditional electro-optical satellites and dedicated infrared sensors, offering persistent heat-signature data. Competitors include other emerging thermal space firms such as Satellogic and European ventures.
Financial terms of the commercial restart were not provided. SatVu has raised tens of millions in prior funding rounds from investors including Molten Ventures and Seraphim Capital, and the milestone could support further growth in the defense and climate monitoring markets.