Pleiades Neo / eo constellation
sourcingtypical 4/5 · 16 factsPleiades Neo consists of two identical satellites delivering native 30cm resolution optical and multispectral imagery with location accuracy of 3.5m CE90. The constellation is entirely funded, manufactured, owned and operated by Airbus. Since its launch in 2021, the company says the constellation has changed Earth observation based services. A successor, Pleiades Neo Next, is planned with native resolution in the 20cm class.
key details
faq
Who operates Pleiades Neo?
Pleiades Neo is operated by Airbus. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
How many Pleiades Neo satellites are active on orbit?
CelesTrak's catalog currently tracks 2 objects for Pleiades Neo. (source, as of 2026-09-08)
When did Pleiades Neo first launch?
Pleiades Neo first launched on 2021-04-29. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
imaging modes
facts
sats active (verified) counts objects currently tracked in CelesTrak's catalog for this constellation. It is a tracking count, not an operator claim about satellite health.
orbit
events
- notable2026-09-01Axelspace partners with Airbus Defence and Space on GRUS imagery
- notable2026-07-31Hisdesat contracts Airbus and Thales Alenia Space to build SpainSat NG III
- notable2026-07-15Loft Orbital orders 10 Airbus buses, 1 Apex Nova bus with option for 9 more
- notable2026-07-02Airbus wins ESA contract to build Aeolus-2 wind-sensing satellite
- noise2026-06-15SES and Airbus secure Noordwijk site for Eagle-1 quantum ground station
- notable2025-11-07OHB opposes Airbus-Leonardo-Thales space merger in EU antitrust review
- seismic2025-10-23Airbus, Leonardo and Thales agree to merge space units into single venture
timeline
- 20262026-01-27Airbus sets early 2028 launch for first Pleiades Neo Next satellite on Vega C (source, as of 2026-07-06)
- 20242024-04-29Airbus launches Pleiades Neo Next program to succeed the four-satellite constellation (source, as of 2026-07-06)
- 20222022-12-20Pleiades Neo 5 and 6 destroyed in Vega C's first operational launch failure (source, as of 2026-07-06)
- 20212021-08-17Pleiades Neo 4 launches, completing the first operational pair (source, as of 2026-07-06)
- 2021-04-29Pleiades Neo 3 launches on Vega, opening Airbus's fully self-funded VHR constellation (source, as of 2026-07-06)
sources
Includes data from Gunter's Space Page: doc_sdat/pleiades-neo.htm