The first satellite in the CloudCT network has transmitted its first observation from orbit, marking an early milestone for the Israeli-German research project studying clouds and polarized light from space.
The image shows a view toward central France as the satellite passed over the Baltic Sea, according to a statement from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.
The CloudCT satellite sends first light from orbit
(Photo: Technion)
One image records light intensity. Clouds appear in the upper-left portion of the frame, while deep space can be seen in the lower-right. Because the CloudCT camera detects light differently from the human eye, much of the field of view covering areas of vegetation appears gray.
A second image presents a false-color representation of the polarized component of light. In that image, brighter pixels indicate a higher degree of polarization.
The satellite and its observations are the result of a collaboration between Israeli and German researchers. The project includes scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science, led by Prof. Ilan Koren, the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, led by Prof. Yoav Schechner, and Germany’s Zentrum für Telematik, led by Prof. Klaus Schilling. The project is supported by the European Research Council.
The satellite was launched successfully by SpaceX on July 7, 2026. The Technion statement also included images provided by SpaceX showing the launch and the satellite’s deployment into orbit.
The satellite is currently undergoing commissioning, the process of testing and calibrating its systems before full scientific operations begin.