IMAGING

Exploring the limits of spectral remote sensing imaging systems

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, USA is funding a team of Rochester Institute of Technology imaging scientists to study the limits of spectral remote sensing imaging systems. Led by principal investigator John Kerekes, a professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, the team received a grant of up to $1 million to conduct fundamental research on imaging systems over the next two to five years. Spectral remote sensing imaging systems use instruments capable of detecting bands of light far beyond what the human eye can see mounted on aircraft or satellites to study the Earth below. www.rit.edu 

Tackling modern slavery in Greek strawberry fields using satellite technology

A consortium of modern slavery experts, led by the University of Nottingham, have assisted the Greek government to tackle a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the strawberry fields of southern Greece.

Using satellite technology to identify migrant settlements – a technique pioneered by the university’s Rights Lab – and working with the Greek authorities, the experts then developed a decision model for which they could prioritise victims that were at highest risk.

Leading the study, the Rights Lab combined different data sources and methods to build a set of criteria measuring the extent of labour exploitation in a settlement. The academics then validated these criteria with a government agency and a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) involved in fighting labour exploitation. By combining earth observation data with operations management techniques, this method has been successfully used to address labour exploitation in areas where strawberries are harvested. This approach is a world-first in the humanitarian sector, with the study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) www.nottingham.ac.uk 

Q-CTRL to manufacture remote sensing technology for space

Q-CTRL, a University of Sydney spinoff quantum technology company, will develop quantum technology solutions to be used for near earth observation and remote sensing. As Australia’s first venture-capital-backed quantum technology company, Q-CTRL was awarded $4.5 million by the federal government to expand the manufacture of novel remote sensing payloads for space deployment. www.manmonthly.com

Private companies to boost space activity in India

Twenty seven new proposals have been received by the Indian government from private companies for various spacerelated activities, according to the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh. The proposals cover the ambit of building and operating launch vehicles, satellites; providing satellitebased services; establishing ground segments; research partnerships and providing mission services. The Cabinet recently approved the participation of the private sector in the entire range of space activities including planetary exploration missions. https://pib.gov.in 

Indian start-up Pixxel targets satellite launch

Indian start-up Pixxel, which has developed an Earth observation satellite, will target an October launch with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) mission. The satellite was to be launched aboard the PSLV-C51 mission in February this year, but due to the last minute technical glitch in the software, the company had to back out.

“There was a problem with the GPS acquisition and logging in the satellite which we were able to resolve in a couple of days. But we had missed the window to ship the satellite to ISRO launch site. The satellite is completely ready and we used the time to do another round of testing. We were waiting for the next opportunity that ISRO mission would go to the orbit we need. We will be launching the satellite in October,” Awais Ahmed, Founder and CEO of the company, was quoted as saying.

The company aims at completing the constellation of hyperspectral satellites by 2023. This would be the first satellite by an Indian start-up, barring the satellite of the non-profit SpaceKidz India that was launched as per a noncommercial agreement by ISRO on PSLV C51 mission in February.

Pixxel is designing the world’s highest resolution hyperspectral imaging satellites that can provide 10 to 50 times more detailed information. www.pixxel.space

 NSSL to undertake launch services for SDA satellites

The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program will undertake the launch services for Space Development Agency (SDA) satellites. The NSSL program is being run by the US Space Force.

SDA is a Defense Department agency that is building a large constellation of small communications satellites in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer. The agency previously awarded SpaceX a $150.4 million contract to launch its first 28 satellites in 2022 and 2023. But future launches will be procured from either the United Launch Alliance or SpaceX under the National Security Space Launch program (NSSL). www.sda.mil 

OHB and ESA Φ-lab cooperation

Φ-lab, the division in the Future Systems Department of the EO (Earth Observation) Programmes Directorate of ESA, and OHB Italia agreed to examine together “transformational technologies” to benefit the end-users of the commercial EO market. The collaboration, might be extended to a joint research program in the future. It aims to characterize and advance transformative commercial services and technologies powered by space-based data. https://philab.phi.esa.int 

New RealityCapture release

Capturing Reality is an Epic Games Studio based in Slovakia developing photogrammetry software RealityCapture (also known as RC) which creates textured 3D meshes, orthographic projections, georeferenced maps from (aerial, terrestrial) images and/or laser scans completely automatically. New software release aims for field working professionals requiring the highest precision and speed. www.realitycapture-training.com 

GeoOptics orbiting observatory to scan evolving Earth

GeoOptics Inc., a trailblazer in Earth remote sensing, announced a major improvement to its CICERO constellation of satellites to observe our changing planet. With launches scheduled to begin next year, it will form a unified Earth observatory allowing governments, industry, and individual stakeholders to monitor and prepare for the many impacts of climate change.

The first CICERO-2 launches will realize several key milestones in small satellite Earth observation, including Global Precipitation Watch, Advanced GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R), and Triple RO. http://geooptics.com 

JAXA and UNOOSA open 7th round of KiboCUBE program

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) is pleased to announce the opening of the 7th round of KiboCUBE program. This program offers an opportunity for the selected entity located in developing countries to deploy 1U CubeSat (10cm3 -sized small satellite) from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” of the International Space Station (ISS). So far, 6 winners have been selected in this program, out of which 3 winners have successfully deployed their CubeSats from the Kibo.

An increasing number of CubeSats have been developed in recent years for its cost-effectiveness, educational value, and as a testbed for new technology. https://humans-in-space.jaxa. 

SpaceX to launch KAI’s future EOS

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) reported signing an agreement with SpaceX for the launch and orbital dispatch of its medium weight Earth observation satellite scheduled for 2023.

According to the KAI statement, the selection of SpaceX was not only guided by the high success rate and low relative costs of the company, but also by analysis of strategic cooperation options for the regional market.

KAI was the first private company in Korea to be responsible for the development and launch of a new nextgeneration standard medium weight (500 kg) satellite platform. It is also the only Korean company capable of mastering all satellite production processes, from design, component manufacturing, assembly, as well as testing and certification. www.koreaaero.com 

Farmbot launches next generation satellite monitor

Farmbot, provider of remote monitoring solutions for Australian agriculture, has launched its next generation satellite monitor which enables twoway communication between farm infrastructure and farmers via satellite connectivity. The Farmbot Duplex Satellite Monitor is the central unit, which will support the camera device and in the near future provide the ability for farmers to control pumps and gates.

Powered by Inmarsat’s IsatData Pro (IDP) service, the new generation monitor provides farmers with two-way messaging via satellite, elevating the Farmbot platform from a monitoring solution, to a management solution. Not only will farmers be able to monitor data collected by sensors, they will also be able to direct a course of action depending on the connected asset. www.farmbot.com 

Aeronautic remote-sensing system by China

China’s new aeronautic system for conducting detailed observations and monitoring of Earth’s surface passed its final acceptance stage recently and is now formally in operation.

The Chinese Aeronautic Remote Sensing System (CARSS), which consists of two medium-sized manned aircraft together with a range of remote-sensing technologies, was developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. According to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the institute, aeronautic remote-sensing images are needed to assess road damage, landslides and collapsed houses when people suffer from severe earthquakes or floods. Remote sensing is widely used in disaster prevention and alleviation, agriculture, forestry and fishery, water conservancy, surveying and mapping.

Compared with space-based remote sensing, aeronautic remote sensing offers higher resolution and precision. It can take pictures of the ground continuously, all day long, producing clearer images. www.xinhuanet.com 

Planet Data to all US Federal Civilian agencies

Planet has expanded its contract with the NASA Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program to provide access to PlanetScope imagery for scientific research use for all US Federal Civilian researchers and National Science Foundation funded researchers, including their contractors and grantees — roughly 280,000 eligible users.

This expands access on the existing contract that currently supports NASA and NASA-funded researchers. Since Planet’s first contract with NASA in 2019, scientists have leveraged Planet imagery for a variety of research projects focused on climate change, biodiversity loss, and complex sustainability problems. Planet is eager to see what projects this expanded pool of researchers will pursue, as it will enable more strategic information sharing across research groups and facilitate greater scientific use. www.planet.com 

NASA, ESA partnership

NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) have formed a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership to observe Earth and its changing environment. The global climate is rapidly changing and the demand for accurate, timely, and actionable knowledge is more pressing than ever. Recognizing that climate change is an urgent global challenge, the timing is right for NASA and ESA, as partners in space, to join forces to lead and support a global response to climate change. The partnership is an effort to help address and mitigate climate change through monitoring Earth with combined efforts of both agencies in Earth science observations, research, and applications. www.nasa.gov 

Spire awarded contract for Earth observation data

Spire Global, Inc. has announced the continuation of its participation in NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program with a six-milliondollar contract extension. The contract continuation, Task Order 6 (TO6), is a subscription data solution that includes radio occultation (RO) data, grazing angle GNSS-RO, total electron content (TEC) data, precise orbit determination (POD) data, soil moisture and ocean surface wind speed GNSS-Reflectometry data, and magnetometer data. This data will be available to all federal agencies, NASA-funded researchers and to all the US Government-funded researchers.

Under CSDA Program TO6, Spire will deliver a comprehensive catalog of data, associated metadata, and ancillary information from its Earth-orbiting smallsatellite constellation. The Company operates its constellation in low Earth and collects upwards of 10,000 radio occultations per day with consistent global coverage. Spire.com