Today, Esper is excited to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with Loft Orbital (Loft), a leader in space infrastructure, for the flight of the first Four Leaf Clover (FLC) hyperspectral sensors on upcoming Loft satellites. The FLC constellation will support critical monitoring applications worldwide.
Unlocking new potential for hyperspectral imagery: The Four Leaf Clover constellation
Under this agreement, Loft will integrate and operate FLC hyperspectral sensors onboard upcoming Yet Another Mission (YAM) satellites, beginning in 2026. The hyperspectral sensors will image hundreds of bands in the visible and shortwave infrared spectrum, and are designed to support a broad range of applications such as identification of critical minerals, detection of methane leaks, and precision monitoring for industries such as mining, agriculture, oil and gas, and more. Esper selected Loft as its space infrastructure provider to integrate, launch and operate hyperspectral missions.
“Esper is pushing the boundaries of hyperspectral remote sensing and redefining what can be done at scale with our next-generation hyperspectral satellite missions,” said Shoaib Iqbal. “With Loft’s powerful satellite infrastructure, we’re supporting our customers’ mission critical use cases across mining, agriculture, climate, oil and gas”.
“Esper’s FLC constellation is an ideal fit for Loft’s infrastructure”, said Mitchell Scher, Loft’s Senior Director of Business Development. “We want to let Esper focus on developing a high quality instrument and building new applications using their data, rather than becoming a space company to become a data and analytics company.”
Critical mineral discovery and sustainable mining, climate and national security applications from space
Esper’s FLC constellation is especially well suited to support the sustainable mining industry, which has seen a boom in global demand for critical minerals like lithium and copper in recent years. Esper aims to enable companies to “unlock” these resources by providing insights to guide efficient mineral deposit identification and extraction while minimizing ecological impact. These mineral discoveries are instrumental in supporting renewable energy technologies that drive a fossil-fuel-free future.
Esper’s satellite data also addresses a range of climate-related applications, including methane emissions monitoring, oil spill detection, tailings monitoring, tracking production mining and ore grade tracking.
Esper’s hyperspectral sensing technology focused on the infrared spectrum can detect and track objects of interest, from detecting camouflage and recently earthed minefields to tracking the movement of allied and adversarial military assets. ensuring national security of nation-states.
A new paradigm in space-based sensing
With the launch of their mission on Loft’s infrastructure in 2026, Esper’s hyperspectral imaging technology is set to bring actionable insights to customers who rely on precise data. Esper is actively engaging customers in industries that include mining, oil and gas, agriculture, and national security, with the goal of delivering satellite-based data that drives informed, impactful decisions.
Together, Esper and Loft are creating a new paradigm in space-based sensing, with a focus on a sustainable, climate-resilient future.