The first of its kind system will give NASA, scientists, and emergency responders unprecedented real-time data to detect and respond to wildfires, methane leaks, vegetation changes, volcanic plume events, and extreme weather.
New Mexico, Nov. 6, 2025 – Spectral Sciences, Inc., a remote sensing innovator, and Sceye, a U.S. aerospace company specializing in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) for telecommunications and environmental monitoring, today announced that NASA has awarded the partners $850,000 to develop and launch a breakthrough, real-time environmental and sustainable resource monitoring system from the stratosphere. The groundbreaking system will pair Sceye’s long-duration HAPS with Spectral Sciences’ advanced hyperspectral sensors to deliver real-time, high-resolution Earth observation data, enabling early detection of wildfires, methane leaks, vegetation dynamics, volcanic plume activity, geology, and other critical data from Earth and environmental observation.
Operating in the stratosphere, Sceye’s solar- and battery-powered HAPS intends to stay over an area of operation for weeks to months at a time, delivering continuous and reliable Earth observation. When equipped with Spectral Sciences’ high-resolution hyperspectral imaging sensors, the platform will be capable of pixel-level monitoring, allowing precise tracking of environmental hazards, detailed analysis of land and ocean surface vegetation (including phytoplankton), geological formations, and resource optimization for industries such as agriculture, mining, and energy.
“Access to continuous, high-quality environmental data is key to ensuring food security, energy reliability, and the protection of natural resources,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO and Founder of Sceye. “By combining Sceye’s platform with Spectral Sciences’ advanced sensors, we are building a system that gives decision-makers the early warnings and detailed insights needed to take action when it matters most.”
“Continuous, high-resolution, real-time imaging of Earth will help first-responders provide timely disaster mitigation and dramatically improve the data we use to test forecast models for a wide range of Earth events and disasters,” said Jonathan Stock, Chief Scientist for Innovation, NASA Intelligent Systems Division.
“Access to continuous, high-quality data from the stratosphere will transform how we understand and safeguard our environment,” said Dr. Marsha J. Fox, Vice President of Operations and Principal Scientist at Spectral Sciences, Inc. “With earlier warnings and more precise monitoring of crops, natural resources, vegetation cycles, volcanic plume events, and ephemeral phenomena, we can take targeted actions that benefit communities, ecosystems, and economies alike.”
Unlike satellites or fixed-wing aircraft, which have limited revisit times or endurance, Sceye’s HAPS can capture continuous and precise environmental data across tens of thousands of square miles. This capability enables:
- Early wildfire detection within minutes of ignition
- Real- time methane emissions monitoring down to the pixel for targeted mitigation
- Observation of vegetation dynamics (including crop health, seasonal growth, and senescence) to strengthen food security and improve yield forecasting
- Imaging of ephemeral phenomena such as volcanic plumes
- Extreme weather mitigation with real-time, high-resolution imaging
- Climate pattern analysis to strengthen forecasting and resilience planning
- Resource mapping to support sustainable mining and energy exploration
The award comes through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a key initiative for advancing breakthrough technologies that support NASA’s resilience goals.
Sceye recently completed the world’s first real-time methane detection missions from the stratosphere and has partnered with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to advance real-time environmental monitoring. With more than 20 successful flights to date and recent strategic investment from SoftBank Corp., Sceye is accelerating the commercialization of HAPS technology to address connectivity and global climate challenges.
About Sceye
Founded in 2014, Sceye is an aerospace company dedicated to advancing stratospheric technology to connect people and protect the planet. Sceye leads the High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) industry, focusing on universal connectivity, climate monitoring, natural resource management, and disaster prevention.
About Spectral Sciences, Inc.
Spectral Sciences, Inc. is a leader in remote sensing, imaging, and spectral analysis technologies for environmental, defense, and scientific applications. The company specializes in hyperspectral imaging systems and software that provide detailed, high-precision data to support decision-making across industries.
