Imaging

CHORUS Earth Observation mission

MDA Ltd has announced its next generation commercial Earth observation (EO) mission will be named CHORUS. It will initially include C-band and X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. A collaborative multi-sensor constellation, CHORUS will bring together multiple diverse and unique perspectives in harmony, opening the aperture and the art of the possible to provide a new level of real-time insight about our planet.

The powerful C-band SAR satellite will provide broad area coverage in concert with a smaller trailing X-band SAR satellite for higher resolution data collection and Near Real-Time (NRT) cross-cueing day or night and in all weather conditions. The X-band satellite will fly in the same mid-inclination orbit with the identical ground track as the MDA-built C-band SAR satellite. https://mda.space/en

Airbus imagery and elevation data now in Azure Maps

Airbus satellite imagery and elevation data will now be available in Microsoft Azure Maps, which is a collection of geospatial services and Software Development Kits (SDKs) that use fresh mapping data to provide geographic context to web and mobile applications.

Under the agreement between Airbus and Microsoft, Airbus will feed Azure Maps with its SPOT, Pléiades and Pléiades Neo satellite imagery and WorldDEM4Ortho elevation data. These premium data services will empower the Azure Maps users to build location intelligence solutions for Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence and create data visualizations for web and mobile apps. www.airbus.com

New Symphonie consortium wins EC call for tender

New Symphonie, the recently established consortium of 22 European companies, has won the European Commission call for tenders entitled “New Space solutions for long-term availability of reliable, secure, cost-effective space-based connectivity”.

Selected for its exceptional innovation and familiarity with leading-edge technologies, the consortium led by UNSEENLABS and EUROCONSULT will be awarded a sixmonth study contract for a total amount of 1.4m euros. Through the study, the consortium members will investigate and recommend to the EC the most optimal infrastructure for secure connectivity markets. The study aims at defining the secure connectivity requirements that could be addressed by a European multi-orbit satellite system to be conceptually designed with innovative technologies for an attractive business plan. www.euroconsult-ec.com

NASA selects Orbital Reef to develop Space station replacement

Orbital Reef, led by partners Blue Origin and Sierra Space, was selected by NASA for a funded Space Act Agreement for collaboration to design a commercially owned and operated space station in low Earth orbit (LEO). NASA’s Commercial LEO Development program aims to shift NASA’s research and exploration activities in LEO to commercial space stations, helping stimulate a growing space economy before the International Space Station is retired. The Orbital Reef team includes Boeing, Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, and Arizona State University. www.orbitalreef.com

Spaceport SARABHAI – India’s first Space think tank

Spaceport SARABHAI (S2) is India’s 1st dedicated Space think tank that aspires to be global, collaborative, and inclusive. Though S2 was launched on 2 October 2021 at the Bangalore International Center, a formal launch announcement was made recently. The think tank is based in Bangalore, with satellite presence in New Delhi, Berlin, Sendai, and San Francisco. During the launch, Dr. Susmita Mohanty, Director-General S2, said, “S2 embraces the multi-dimensional nature of human space endeavors. The S2 lens includes, among others, the geopolitical, scientific, economic, legal, safety, security, sustainability issues related to outer space activities.” She also informed that S2 would be engaging with ISpA and IN-SPACe and will undertake research to size the Indian Space economy.

The think tank name is an homage to the founder of India’s space program: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, a physicist, a visionary, and a renaissance man. S2 is conceived as a launchpad for ideas for a shared future.

Focus on RS satellite development in Malaysias’ national space blueprint

Malaysia is developing a national space blueprint to drive the growth of its space sector, particularly the manufacturing of remote-sensing satellites, satellite components and data-driven downstream services.

During a Dec. 13 parliamentary hearing, a deputy minister shared the latest update on the “Malaysia Space Exploration 2030” blueprint being fleshed out by Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The blueprint outlines a 10-year strategy in line with Malaysia’s National Space Policy 2030. The policy, adopted in 2017, recognizes the importance of space technologies for the country’s economic growth and national security. https://spacenews.com

China, Russia scaling up cooperation in space, energy sector

China and Russia are boosting cooperation in space exploration, in the energy segment and in the trade sphere, President of China Xi Jinping said in the New Year greetings telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“China and Russia achieved new records in bilateral trade; we are scaling up cooperation in major strategic projects in the energy sector and in the aerospace sphere,” the Chinese leader said. China and Russia have successfully completed the year of scientific and technical cooperation, he noted. https://tass.com