The VanZyl-1 satellite will feature Hydrosat's unique custom imagers, accelerating the availability of global high-resolution thermal imaging technology and providing a vital dataset to improve agricultural and climate models. This marks the first commercial satellite to offer high-resolution thermal imagery and insights covering the entire Earth, both land and water, transforming how agriculturalists and government bodies address environmental and climate challenges.
Named in memory of Jakob van Zyl, Hydrosat co-founder and former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory leader, who passed away in 2020, VanZyl-1 aims to achieve unprecedented results. It will provide enhanced understanding of global water stress in agriculture, often due to drought and inadequate irrigation. Utilizing thermal infrared imagery, VanZyl-1 will measure climate change impacts and deliver actionable data.
"With the increasing threat of droughts and water scarcity, access to reliable data is crucial for understanding water use and maintaining agricultural productivity," said Pieter Fossel, co-founder and CEO of Hydrosat. "As global food systems face growing pressures, businesses and governments need better data to manage risks in real-time. The launch of VanZyl-1 represents a major advancement in delivering high-quality data for climate applications, offering invaluable insights to address critical environmental issues."
Hydrosat's technology provides more frequent access to high-resolution thermal imaging globally. VanZyl-1 will enhance our understanding of climate events that are invisible to the naked eye by capturing images worldwide, including times not covered by existing satellites, such as over oceans or different times of day.
Current satellite programs capture thermal images only twice every 16 days, often hindered by cloud cover. VanZyl-1 and Hydrosat's upcoming constellation will offer additional images, increasing data collection frequency and reliability for monitoring water stress and crop health. This allows commercial customers to make data-driven decisions based on improved data availability.
"With the launch of VanZyl-1, Hydrosat will pioneer the first commercial high-resolution thermal infrared mission with comprehensive global coverage. This milestone in climate change mitigation introduces a new era in thermal imaging technology," said Scott Soenen, Hydrosat's Chief Technology Officer. "Hydrosat's technology will enable more frequent and higher resolution event detection and monitoring, enhancing the precision of our insights. VanZyl-1 is just the beginning; our future constellation will complement government missions like Landsat, enabling daily thermal infrared imagery of the planet."
The data applications are extensive, including agriculture, aquaculture, drought, wildfire, and urban heat. From commercial ventures to government initiatives, VanZyl-1's insights will improve agricultural and climate modeling and crop stress information for growers and stakeholders.
Hydrosat supports customers in 38 countries, covering millions of acres of farmland. This enables growers to optimize operations and increase crop yields while using less water. As Hydrosat delivers this innovative data, a new era of informed decision-making will drive advancements across various industries, benefiting early adopters with increased operational precision and quality outputs.
The launch of VanZyl-1 underscores Hydrosat's leadership in climate tech innovation. Recently, Hydrosat received a grant from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for its commercially promising solutions. In 2023, Hydrosat raised over $32 million in venture funding and acquired IrriWatch, a leading irrigation management company. Additionally, Hydrosat has secured contracts from the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center. Following VanZyl-1's launch, Hydrosat plans to launch VanZyl-2 in early 2025 and aims to have the first block of satellites operational by 2026.
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