A promising Australian remote sensing startup, Esper, is set to revolutionize hyperspectral imagery capture from space at a fraction of the cost of its competitors.
Despite fierce competition in the field, Esper is launching its first demonstration satellite today on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 mission. Hyperspectral technology is known for its ability to identify the spectral signature of various objects, enabling the detection of substances like minerals, chemicals, gases, and vegetation.
With $1 million in pre-seed funding and support from the Australian government, Esper is driven to outperform its well-funded competitors through cost-effective technology.
The primary objective of their initial mission, titled “Over the Rainbow,” is to validate the company’s core technology on a demonstrator spacecraft equipped with a spectrometer system and proprietary software to interpret spectral imagery accurately. By utilizing off-the-shelf components and consumer-level electronics, Esper is able to keep costs down while maintaining data accuracy.
Co-founded by Shoaib Iqbal and Joey Lorenczak in early 2021, Esper evolved from a space-focused idea to Earth observation following the devastating bushfire season in southeast Australia in 2019. Their focus on hyperspectral technology gained attention from mining industry customers and disaster response organizations, prompting Esper to fully commit to this innovation.
Through participation in Techstars’ space accelerator program, Esper connected with key stakeholders in U.S. government agencies like the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, which are interested in procuring hyperspectral imagery. The company also secured funding from notable investors and grants to propel its growth.
Esper’s roadmap includes launching a second demonstrator satellite in collaboration with India’s ISRO, followed by commercial payload launches by late next year or early ’26. Their vision includes having 18 satellites in orbit by 2028, offering a daily revisit rate for clients.
