On 15 April 2020, as part of their continuing efforts to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Axelspace Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan Space Systems (“J-spacesystems”) to promote the use of satellite data in the field of capacity building and human resource development.
Since 2012, J-spacesystems has engaged in capacity building programs in order to contribute to SDGs and address global social issues through the use of satellite data. To date, these programs have reached over 100 individuals in 30 countries around the world. In the past these programs have sought to reduce costs by utilizing freely available satellite imagery, which does not always offer satisfactory imaging frequency or resolution for analysis. Furthermore, imagery of more specific locations and observation requests are unavailable.
AxelGlobe is Axelspace’s next generation Earth observation platform which will offer convenient access to imaging data at the resolution of 2.5m – a level which is rarely seen in freely available data. With four launches planned in 2020, the AxelGlobe constellation will soon comprise 5 satellites and offer the ability to image any location on Earth once every three days. By 2022, Axelspace plans to further expand the constellation to offer updated imaging on a daily basis.
Through this partnership, Axelspace and J-spacesystems will use AxelGlobe data to meet the high resolution and high frequency needs of the aforementioned capacity building programs (including support for programs such as the Japanese Government’s ABE Initiative), as well as promote the broader use of such data to address issues raised by program participants. In doing so, both companies hope to make a substantial contribution to achieving SDGs.
