Hong Kong University of Science and Technology startup Stellerus Technology aims to become the world's first provider of satellite-enabled three-dimensional wind data through its revolutionary Feilian Constellation, the company announced this week, marking a potential breakthrough for weather forecasting, renewable energy planning, and climate risk management.
The company plans to deploy its first two satellites within the next 18 months, followed by five additional satellites to complete a six-satellite constellation capable of providing global 3D wind coverage. Named after the ancient Chinese god of wind, the Feilian Constellation represents what Su Hui, the company's chairwoman and co-founder, describes as a crucial advancement in atmospheric observation.
"There is a significant lack of such detailed data for meteorological observation and analysis on a global scale," Su told media outlets. "While various organizations, including NASA, are considering similar projects, none have been realized due to the prohibitive costs associated with launching a satellite constellation."
The startup recently secured the prestigious Platinum Award at the HKUST-SINO One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition in September 2025, where they competed against 348 teams from around the world. The company also received the Sustainability Impact Award for their innovative approach to climate technology.
Stellerus is leveraging China's manufacturing advantages to make global 3D wind data collection economically viable. Su, a former principal scientist and weather program manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who joined HKUST in 2022, noted the dramatic cost difference between satellite production in different regions.
"In the US, such a satellite could cost US$100 million to build, compared with 20 million yuan [US$2.8 million] in China," Su explained. The company has already secured "tens of millions" of dollars in funding since its founding in 2023.
The startup is partnering with Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a Jilin government-backed firm and China's first commercial remote sensing satellite company, which operates the world's largest sub-meter commercial satellite constellation with 108 satellites in orbit. In August 2023, HKUST became the first higher education institution in Hong Kong to launch an Earth environmental satellite through this partnership.
CEO David Liu outlined extensive applications for the 3D wind data across multiple sectors. "The potential applications encompass optimizing aircraft routes for fuel savings and avoiding turbulence, planning shipping routes for fuel efficiency, as well as managing climate risks and pricing products for property and casualty insurers," he told reporters.
The company is already in advanced discussions with wind farm developers and state-owned power grid operators who are interested in accessing the data for operational improvements. Chief Technology Officer Jeffrey Xu Mingyuan emphasized the particular value for offshore wind operations, where "acquiring precise wind data is quite expensive".
For China's wind energy sector—the world's largest—Stellerus's data could help operators increase power sales while saving millions of yuan typically spent on constructing wind monitoring towers. The company's technology addresses critical needs in wind farm siting, energy storage planning, trading, and grid access optimization.
Through advanced optical sensors and artificial intelligence, Stellerus plans to analyze atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor to determine shifts in wind speed and direction with unprecedented precision. This capability positions the company to compete in a growing market, as the global 3D weather radar system market is projected to reach approximately $2.5 billion in 2025 with an 8% compound annual growth rate through 2033.
