Rendering of a Tanager hyperspectral satellite. Photo: Planet

Planet announced Monday that its hyperspectral satellites with the Carbon Mapper Coalition will have 30-meter resolution and cover more than 400 spectral bands. The company said these hyperspectral Tanager satellites will be able to track methane and CO2 emissions. 

Planet is part of the Carbon Mapper Coalition, a nonprofit with partners Planet, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the state of California, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, RMI, and philanthropic sponsors. Last year, the coalition announced plans to deploy a hyperspectral constellation to fulfill its goal of monitoring methane and CO2 emissions.

Planet said the first two satellites will launch next year and fly in Sun Synchronous Orbit. The satellites’ hyperspectral sensor technology was pioneered by NASA JPL and will provide 30m resolution and a full spectral range of shortwave infrared and high-precision 5nm wide bands. These satellites are designed to track methane and CO2 signatures, and serve other environmental applications as well in industries like agriculture, defense & intelligence, energy, civil government, and mining.

The name Tanager comes from a color family of birds in Central and South America.

In addition, ASU’s Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science will also play a key role in the Carbon Mapper mission performing additional scientific research on hyperspectral applications.