Satellogic and HEO Photographed Merlin.01 in Orbit
The companies used non-Earth imaging to verify the status and solar array deployment of the new satellite.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Space
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Satellogic and HEO have released high-resolution images of the Merlin.01 satellite as it orbits the Earth. The visual data confirms that the satellite successfully deployed its solar arrays after launching earlier this month.
Why it matters
The successful imaging provides an independent verification of the satellite's condition while in orbit. This capability ensures that space operators can monitor hardware health and performance from a distance.
The Merlin.01 satellite was captured at a resolution of 8cm/px from a distance of 53km. Satellogic developed the satellite over an 18-month period following the formal kickoff of the program in March 2025.
The players
Satellogic
This company specializes in satellite technology and provides high-resolution Earth observation data.
HEO
The organization provides non-Earth imaging services to help satellite operators monitor their assets in space.
Merlin.01
This is a newly launched satellite developed by Satellogic that serves as the prototype for a forthcoming constellation.
The details
HEO utilized non-Earth imaging technology aboard the NewSat-47 satellite to photograph the Merlin.01 unit. Satellogic built the Merlin satellite by adapting its existing NewSat platform design and successfully updated the unit's onboard software within two days of its launch.
Timeline
The Merlin program officially began in March 2025.
The Merlin.01 satellite launched on October 1, 2026.
NewSat-47 captured the orbital images on October 4, 2026.
Satellogic and HEO released the images on October 13, 2026.
Full constellation service is expected in the second half of 2027.
The Big Picture
The Merlin project marks a significant evolution of the Satellogic NewSat satellite platform by optimizing the design for a new, larger constellation. This development reflects a shift toward rapid, iterative satellite production cycles that leverage proven hardware architectures.
The ability to perform high-resolution inspections from orbit could lead to more reliable satellite services and improved infrastructure monitoring from space. As this technology scales, it may enable more frequent, cost-effective maintenance for private and public orbital assets.
The takeaway
The successful imaging of the Merlin.01 satellite demonstrates the growing maturity of non-Earth inspection capabilities. Operators can now better verify hardware performance and solar array deployment without relying solely on internal telemetry.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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