Earth observation

The Earth Observation (EO) market is expected to grow in the area of prediction and detection of risks, post-disaster rescue, recovery efforts, infrastructure planning, urban development utilities, and national mapping agencies. Satellite data can be integrated into system control to construct warning systems for assets management, to effectively decrease the response time in operation and increase management of precise and predictive maintenance. In other words, the growth of EO data creates a potential growth both in mitigating against climate damage and economic and efficiency growth across industries, across regions. But this potential will only come to fruition if utilized.

Airbus Defense and Space has announced an agreement for Angeo-1, the first very high-performance Angolan Earth observation satellite, which it will develop in France. Furthermore, the agreement will strengthen the collaboration between the two countries. As part of the partnership, Airbus will offer a comprehensive training program for Angolan engineers to build domestic competencies through targeted knowledge transfer.

Spaceflight Inc. has announced it will launch two BlackSky satellites aboard Rocket Lab’s next mission called “The Beat Goes On,” from Mahia, New Zealand. U.S.-based satellite maker LeoStella manufactured the satellites, which are now in New Zealand for the final stage of integration, with co-engineering from with BlackSky. The two spacecraft onboard the mission will be the 15th and 16th satellites in BlackSky’s growing constellation.

Two Germany NewSpace companies - constellr, a technology company enabling space-based water, temperature and carbon measurement for the agricultural sector, and Exolaunch, a global provider of launch, deployment and in-space logistics services, have announced the signing of the multi-launch agreement (MLA) for constellr’s high precision versatile ecosphere monitoring (HiVE) microsat constellation. 

ESA’s Earth Explorer Biomass satellite has undergone testing to ensure it will survive liftoff and deploy its solar array correctly. Having passed these tests successfully Biomass is closer to its mission in orbit: to deliver new information on our forests and the carbon they store. 

Pixxel, India’s space data startup, has unveiled the first-ever set of images from its hyperspectral pathfinder satellites as part of its ‘First Light’ Campaign. The images capture intricate details of the land and water features of regions such as Krishna River Delta (India), Palm Islands (Dubai), Super pit (Australia), Saloum River Delta (Senegal), Granny Smith Gold mine (Australia) and Brockman (Australia).

Bayanat, a AI-powered geospatial solutions provider, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AI Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, to develop an in-country space programme. 

GHGSat has announced the upcoming launches of six additional satellites in 2023. The first three are GHGSat satellites, named Mey-Lin (C6), Gaspard (C7) and Océane (C8), which will travel into orbit this Spring onboard SpaceX’s Transporter-7 rideshare mission.

Capella Space - an American-based company providing data and satellite solutions for government and commercial use - announced on the 22nd of February that it will launch its Analytics Partner Program. This program aims to meet the increasing global demand for geospatial products and solutions that leverage the power of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. This program will empower partners to develop AI-powered geospatial solutions for a wide range of industry verticals. 

In this German Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Andreas Lindenthal, Head of Business Operations & Products at Airbus Space Systems, about the launch of SARah,  Artemis and the Ministerial Council 2022.