Tag Archives: Earth Observation

Australian SmartSat and CSIRO to launch space-based water quality project AquaWatch

Over the next decade, Earth Observation (EO) satellites will stop streaming image data to the earth. Instead, the instruments onboard EO satellites will tell us what is happening below. And, these satellites will be able to take control of their operations to allow for the execution of complex tasks.

In response to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) have joined forces to use the collective scientific power of their Earth-observing satellite data to document planet-wide changes in the environment and human society.

York Space Systems, an aerospace company specializing in complete space segment customer solutions and the manufacturer of standardized spacecraft platforms, announced that the company has been chosen as a strategic partner & subcontractor by LatConnect 60, who is currently developing a small satellite constellation that will provide greater access and control to critical Earth observation data required by the Australian government and a wide range of commercial clients across the world.

Serbia and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on space technology cooperation on 5 June 2020. The MoU includes a provision for the joint development of a Sino-Serbian satellite.

Momentus, provider of in-space transportation services for satellites, and OrbAstro, a UK company focused on developing the technology to enable tiny satellites to operate in large flocks, announced on 4 June 2020 a launch contract to fly a 3U to SSO onboard the SpaceX Dedicated rideshare mission in 2021.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a not-to-exceed US$2.37 billion undefinitized contract modification for Phase 1 of the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Polar program from the United States Space Force (USSF).

The Russian state space corporation Roscosmos is to develop a low-Earth orbit (LEO) space surveillance satellite that will help monitor space debris and should be launched by 2027, according to a senior Roscosmos official in remarks to the TASS news agency on 28 May 2020.

Terramonitor, a leader in space data solutions, announced on 28 May 2020 the opening of a Web Store which offers Analysis Ready satellite image mosaics and Up-to-date Maps.

The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting (GEO) satellite program, commonly referred to as NGG, completed its preliminary design reviews (PDR) for its two candidate mission payloads on 21 May 2020.