Imaging

ISRO launches Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08

Indian Space Research Organisation’s latest Earth Observation Satellite ‘EOS- 08’ was launched by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 on August 16, 2024 at 9:17 hrs from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shriharikota.

The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites.

Built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, EOS-08 carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter. The EOIR payload is designed to capture images in the Mid-Wave IR (MIR) and Long-Wave IR (LWIR) bands, both during the day and night, for applications such as satellite-based surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring.

The GNSS-R payload demonstrates the capability of using GNSS-R-based remote sensing for applications such as ocean surface wind analysis, soil moisture assessment, cryosphere studies over the Himalayan region, flood detection, and inland waterbody detection. Meanwhile, the SiC UV Dosimeter monitors UV irradiance at the viewport of the Crew Module in the Gaganyaan Mission and serves as a high-dose alarm sensor for gamma radiation.

EOS-08 marks a significant advancement in satellite mainframe systems such as an Integrated Avionics system, known as the Communication, Baseband, Storage, and Positioning (CBSP) Package, which combines multiple functions into a single, efficient unit. This system is designed with cold redundant systems using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and evaluation boards, supporting up to 400 Gb of data storage. Additionally, the satellite includes a structural panel embedded with PCB, an embedded battery, a Micro-DGA (Dual Gimbal Antenna), an M-PAA (Phased Array Antenna), and a flexible solar panel, each serving as key components for onboard technology demonstration.

The satellite employs a miniaturized design in its Antenna Pointing Mechanisms, capable of achieving a rotational speed of 6 degrees per second and maintaining a pointing accuracy of ±1 degree. The miniaturized phased array antenna further enhances communication capabilities, while the flexible solar panel incorporates a foldable solar panel substrate, GFRP tube, and CFRP honeycomb rigid end panel, offering improved power generation and structural integrity. A pyrolytic graphite sheet diffuser plate, known for its high thermal conductivity of 350 W/mK, reduces mass and finds application in various satellite functions. Furthermore, the EOS-08 mission adopts a new method of integrating housekeeping panels using a hinge-based fixture, significantly reducing the duration of the Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) phase.

Incorporating additional novel schemes, the EOS-08 mission improves satellite technology through X-band data transmission, utilizing pulse shaping and Frequency Compensated Modulation (FCM) for X-Band data transmitters. The satellite’s battery management system employs SSTCR-based charging and bus regulation, sequentially including or excluding strings at a frequency of 6 Hz.

The mission’s indigenization effort is evident in its solar cell fabrication processes and the use of a Nano-Star Sensor for Microsat Applications. Additionally, the inertial system benefits from reaction wheel isolators that attenuate vibrations and a single antenna interface is utilized for TTC and SPS applications. Thermal management is enhanced using materials such as AFE BGA, Kintex FPGA, Germanium Black Kapton, and STAMET (Si-Al Alloy) Black Kapton to handle the thermal properties of COTS components. The mission also incorporates an auto-launch pad initialization feature, further demonstrating its commitment to innovative mission management. www.pib.gov.in

Chile space cooperation agreement with Brazil

Chile and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Space Activities for Peaceful Purposes, to promote joint programs and projects in space matters. Both countries will identify areas to develop joint programs and projects by their respective national policies on space policy. www.gob.cl

Neuraspace partnersship with EISCAT on Space Traffic Management

This strategic partnership gives Neuraspace access to radar observation time for monitoring space objects. It will also provide advanced ionospheric and atmospheric measurement data, in preparation for using the next generation of the incoherent scatter radar facility EISCAT_3D.

EISCAT Scientific Association has been providing access to high-latitude incoherent radar scattering facilities and other instrumentation for scientific, non-military purposes since 1980.

Partnering with EISCAT also allows Neuraspace to collaborate with the wider community of experts, fostering innovation in STEM research and development. neuraspace.com

Apex releases GEO Satellite Bus

Apex announced the introduction of GEO Aries, a productized ESPA-class satellite bus designed for geostationary orbit (GEO) missions. It is a high delta-v satellite bus designed to support the needs of Apex’s customers’ GEO missions, including communications, imaging, and other use cases. www.apexspace.com

Lockheed Martin to acquire Terran Orbital

Lockheed Martin shall acquire Terran Orbital, a global leader of satellitebased solutions primarily supporting the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital brings a high throughput, robotic manufacturing capacity and highperforming modular space vehicle designs. Lockheed Martin uses It’s satellites for its work, most notably with the Space Development Agency’s Transport and Tracking Layer programs, and in several of its self-funded technology demonstrations. lockheedmartin.com

World’s first satellite exclusively for observing biodiversity

Kongsberg NanoAvionics has announced that four of their customer satellites, will be launched into orbit aboard the upcoming SpaceX Transporter-11 mission. All these nanosatellites built by NanoAvionics, include the world’s first satellite dedicated exclusively to observing the Earth’s biodiversity (which will also become Chile’s first private satellite), a mission to monitor the health of our oceans, using a hyperspectral imager for Earth observation, and a communication mission with a softwaredefined radio (SDR) payload.

The 6U “Lemu Nge” (Forest Eye) will use an onboard hyperspectral camera to capture high-resolution images of 4.75m GSD (ground sampling distance) of the world’s forests in over 30 visible and infrared bands. With the data Chilean company Lemu is building an atlas of the Earth’s biosphere that can be used to develop and evaluate conservation plans and sustainability strategies. nanoavionics.com

Satellite Data + AI help manage smart cities

SkySat data has been leveraged by the government of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB), to enhance urban planning initiatives nationwide. In collaboration with Planet, Aetosky has implemented an advanced urban planning system. This turnkey solution integrates AI-enabled change detection technology with highresolution satellite imagery, exemplifying a sophisticated approach to modern urban management. www.planet.com