IMAGING

UAE, Bahrain boost space and climate monitoring with satellite launches

The UAE and Bahrain successfully launched their satellites, Etihad-SAT and Al-Munther, to enhance environmental monitoring and advance scientific research.

The Etihad-SAT, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), was deployed from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

The radar-equipped satellite can capture high-precision images in all weather conditions and monitor various environmental factors, including detecting oil leaks, tracking maritime traffic, and supporting agricultural initiatives. This satellite launch is part of UAE’s expanding space program, which began with the formation of the UAE Space Agency in 2014 and includes the Hope Probe mission to Mars. Bahrain also successfully launched their own version, Al-Munther, the first domestically designed and developed satellite, also aboard the same Falcon 9 rocket. www.newarab.com

New research centre At IIT Madras

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V Narayanan inaugurated a new research centre of thermal sciences for space applications at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).

This state-of-the-art research facility, housed at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, will focus on critical advancements in spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management, a key area for India’s expanding space ambitions. This apart, the centre will also serve as a nodal centre for research in heat transfer, cooling systems and fluid dynamics. These are essential for the next generation of spacecraft and satellite technologies. Scientists and engineers from ISRO will work alongside faculty and researchers from IIT Madras to address complex thermal challenges in space applications. www.etvbharat.com

Chandrayaan-5 Mission Approved

The government of India has approved the Chandrayaan 5 mission, and it will carry a whopping 250 kg rover to the lunar surface, according to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan.

It will be the fifth flight as part of the Chandrayaan programme, also known as the Indian Lunar Exploration Programme, and aims for the exploration of the Moon.

The Chandrayaan-3 was a resounding success making India the first country in the world to make a soft landing on the South Pole of the Moon. India also became the fourth nation after the erstwhile USSR (now Russia), the US, and China to make a soft landing on the Moon. While Chandrayaan-3 carried a 25- kg rover named ‘Prayagyaan,’ the new Chandrayaan-5 mission, in collaboration with Japan, will feature a much heavier 250-kg rover. www.ndtv.com

AI Capabilities to Turn Geospatial Satellite Imagery into Actionable Insights

Planet Labs recently announced that it will begin using Anthropic’s Claude’s Large Language Models (LLMs), to revolutionize how we understand and analyze our changing planet. This collaboration will combine Planet’s deep stack of daily geospatial data with Claude’s advanced AI capabilities to analyze complex visual information at scale and uncover insights about our changing planet.

China adds to SuperView remote sensing constellation

China recently added to a commercial high-resolution remote sensing constellation with the launch of a pair of SuperView Neo-1 satellites. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced launch a success within an hour of liftoff.

The satellites are part of the “China Siwei New Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System,” which now has nine satellites in orbit and will grow to a total of 28 spacecraft. CASC describes the satellites as currently having the highest spatial resolution of commercial remote sensing satellites within China. The SuperView constellation currently consists of four Neo-1 optical satellites, four Neo-2 SAR satellites, and one Neo-3 ultra-large width satellite. SAR enables all-weather imaging while optical satellites provide high-resolution detail.

Shiv Nadar University Signs MoU with NRSC

Shiv Nadar University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a branch of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to accelerate research in space technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The association will contribute to research on imagery from satellite applications for ecological and urban development, disaster management using satellite photography and forecasting analytics, AI-driven precision farming for crop monitoring and yield optimization, climate resilience studies that use observational data, and autonomous UAV-based environmental assessments.

Saudi Arabia, Korea Sign MoU

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) has signed a MoU with the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) to enhance cooperation in the space sector. The MoU aims to support and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two entities by establishing a framework for implementing collaborative activities and programs in space-related fields. These include deep space technologies, manned spaceflight programs, satellite launches and payloads, space science and engineering capacity-building, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in advanced space applications. my.gov.sa