Stratospheric sensing,
on demand.
on demand.
Regulatory & Flight Ops
We handle all regulatory approvals and flight operations management.
Sensor Integration
Custom sensor packages tailored to your mission requirements.
Data Delivery
High-resolution, near-real-time Earth observation data delivered to you.
No Aerospace Expertise
You specify what data you need; we handle everything else.
Stratospheric data made simple.
HAP-Operations partners with existing HAP manufacturers and operators to provide end-to-end mission management. You specify what data you need — we handle everything else.
Built in Munich
We're a team of three TUM master's students (Robotics, Informatics, Management) based in Munich, developing HAP-Operations from ideation to reality.
Why HAP-Operations?
We make stratospheric sensing accessible to organizations
without in-house aerospace expertise or aircraft fleets.
No capital investment
No need to build or maintain your own aircraft. Partner with existing HAP operators through our platform.
End-to-end service
From regulatory approval to data delivery, we manage the entire mission lifecycle.
Custom sensors
Flexible sensor integration tailored to your specific data requirements and use cases.
Regulatory expertise
We handle all necessary approvals and compliance, navigating complex aerospace regulations.
Data analytics ready
High-resolution, near-real-time Earth observation data delivered in formats ready for analysis.
Scalable access
On-demand stratospheric sensing comparable to cloud computing — use what you need, when you need it.
Meet the team
Three TUM master's students turning stratospheric sensing into an accessible service
Industries we serve
Delivering critical stratospheric data across key sectors
Telecommunications
Temporary connectivity, rural coverage trials, and network resilience testing.
Government & Defense
Border monitoring, maritime domain awareness, and persistent surveillance.
Disaster Management
Continuous thermal and visual monitoring with low latency for wildfire/flood response.
Insurance & Risk
Post-event damage assessment and infrastructure exposure analysis.
Agriculture
Crop monitoring, yield estimation, and environmental observation.
Research & Development
Sensor validation and technology readiness testing with full recovery.
How it works
Simple, transparent process to get your payload to the stratosphere
1. Definition
We define mission objectives and data requirements.
2. Feasibility
We assess platform suitability and secure regulatory approvals.
3. Deployment
We manage the flight; you receive the data via API.
Frequently asked questions
- What is HAP‑Operations?
HAP‑Operations is an independent operator of high-altitude platforms (HAPs) providing persistent stratospheric data and hosted payload services. We enable access to the stratosphere—approximately 20 km altitude—for organizations that require continuous presence, high spatial resolution, low latency, or recoverable payloads.
Rather than manufacturing or selling aircraft, HAP‑Operations delivers Data-as-a-Service and Hosted Payload Operations. Customers define data or mission requirements; we manage platform selection, regulatory approvals, flight operations, and data delivery end-to-end.
- How does the platform work?
HAP‑Operations operates a shared-mission model. For each mission, we:
- Select the optimal platform based on payload mass, power needs, loiter time, and coverage requirements.
- Aggregate compatible payloads and data requirements.
- Secure regulatory approvals (BVLOS, airspace access, spectrum) and manage launch, station-keeping, and recovery.
- Process and deliver analysis-ready data through secure APIs or customer-specific pipelines.
By operating missions with multiple tenants, fixed costs such as launch, recovery, and operations are shared. This enables more efficient use of stratospheric assets while maintaining mission-grade reliability.
Get in touch
Have questions? We'd love to hear from you.