Earth observation

A project led by the University of Oxford has trained a machine learning model in outer space, on board a satellite. A group of researchers led by DPhil student Vit Růžička participated in the project. During 2022, the team successfully pitched their idea to the ‘Dashing through the Stars’ mission, which had issued a call for project proposals to be carried out on board the ION SCV004 satellite, launched in January 2022.  

The Cook Government announced on the 25th of July that it has invested $800,000 to advance the State’s Earth Observation (EO) capabilities through the collection, processing, analysis and application of high-resolution satellite data. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Spire Global a €16 million phased contract for the EURIALO project. The project will develop the preliminary design and demonstrator for a global space-based independent aircraft surveillance system. It is part of ESA’s program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) in its Directorate of Connectivity and Secure Communications.

Bengaluru, 24 July 2023 - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the launch date for its PSLV-C56 / DS-SAR Mission from the launch pad at SDSC (Satish Dhawan Space Centre) - SHAR, in Sriharikota Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh as 30th July 2023 at 06:30 Hrs. The mission will carry the DS-SAR satellite which is developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering.

constellr has secured further investment to extend its seed round to a total of EUR 17 million. Karista leads the funding extension, with participation from Einstein Industries Ventures alongside existing investors FTTF, Lakestar, Vsquared, Amathaon Capital, Natural Ventures, OHB Ventures, and OHB Ventures. The space-based temperature company will use the investment to accelerate the deployment of its new generation of thermal satellites and to meet growing demand among its US customers.

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Josef Aschbacher  – European Space Ambitions – ESA Agenda 2025, updates and goals” took place on the 7th July 2023. Josef Aschbacher earned both his Master’s degree and PhD in natural sciences from the University of Innsbruck. His impressive international career in the space sector spans over 35 years and encompasses work at the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the Austrian Space Agency, the Asian Institute of Technology, and the University of Innsbruck. 

China has begun the construction of an ultra-low orbit satellite constellation, according to the developer China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). CASIC disclosed this on Wednesday at the 9th China (International) Commercial Aerospace Forum in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, according to the local media. The constellation will reportedly comprise 300 communications and remote-sensing satellites orbiting the globe, providing a global ultrafast response capability within 15 minutes.

Impact Observatory, a US-based space observation system company, announced on the 5th of July that it has entered into a partnership with Planet Labs PBC, a provider of daily data and insights around the world. The partnership uses AI-powered analytics to monitor land cover and land use (LULC) on top of Planet Lab’s high-frequency, medium- and high-resolution satellite data. 

Impact Observatory has partnered with Planet Labs to use AI-powered analytics to monitor land cover and land use (LULC) on top of Planet’s high-frequency, medium- and high-resolution satellite data. Automated analytics are core to helping customers better understand changes and anticipate threats at previously unobtainable speed and scale

In this Space Café Radio - SpaceWatch.Global contributor Remco Timmermans spoke with Einar Bjørgo,  Director, United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT)at GLOC - the Global Space Conference on Climate Change in Oslo in May 2023 about the center, the role of UNOSAT and the ways of activation. The Global Space Conference on Climate Change was co-organized by IAF, the International Astronautical Federation, and the Norwegian Space Agency.