IMAGING

Leaf Space’s first ground station in Canada

Leaf Space has announced the completion of its first ground station in Canada, built in partnership with Maritime Launch Services Inc at Spaceport Nova Scotia, near Canso, Nova Scotia. The newest ground station will support S- and X-band, high-speed data download for satellite operators worldwide, through efficient and mission-critical communication with their space assets from a strategic gateway on Canada’s Atlantic coast. The antenna, radome and supporting electronics rack have been installed and activated on site, with the station now available for commercial satellite traffic, following regulatory clearance from Canadian authorities. leaf.space

Orbitworks ships UAEbuilt Altair-1 to US

Abu Dhabi-based satellite company Orbitworks has shipped Altair-1, the first satellite in its planned Altair constellation, to the United States for final launch preparations, marking a major milestone for the UAE’s emerging commercial space industry.

Altair-1 is the UAE’s first commercial AI-enabled Earth observation satellite and is the first of 10 spacecraft that will make up Orbitworks’ Altair constellation. The satellite was developed, manufactured and integrated in the UAE before being transported to the US ahead of its planned launch in October 2026.

Long March 2C launches satellite for UAE

China launched a new batch of Guowang mega constellation satellites over the weekend, following up with a separate launch of a developmental satellite for the UAE. The launch of the Long March 12 notably came under a week after the failure of a Long March 7A rocket.

The Long March 12 lifted off at 12:10 a.m. Eastern (0410 UTC) Aug. 16 from pad 2 at the Hainan commercial space launch center, southern China. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced launch success, revealing the payload to be a new batch of satellites for the Guowang constellation. spacenews.com

Synspective’s 10th SAR satellite successfully reaches target orbit

Synspective Inc. successfully deployed its 10th SAR satellite, StriX, the latest addition to its growing constellation. The satellite was launched into orbit by Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula on June 26, 17:43 (UTC). Over the coming months, Synspective will conduct testing and commissioning to verify the satellite’s observation capabilities before entering service. www.synspective.com

Uzbekistan-China satellite project advances with AI Module

Uzbek engineers are developing an onboard artificial intelligence module for a new Earth observation satellite being built in partnership with a Chinese aerospace company. The satellite, named Samarqand-2028, is being developed under an agreement between Uzbekistan’s national space agency, Uzbekcosmos, and China’s STAR.VISION Aerospace. The Chinese company is developing the satellite itself, while Uzbek specialists are working on an onboard AI system that will help process the information it collects. The spacecraft will use hyperspectral imaging, which can detect features invisible to the human eye. timesca.com

ISRO expands satellite-based Disaster Management across J&K

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has implemented a range of satellite-based and space technology applications across Jammu and Kashmir, including landslide alerts, watershed monitoring, waterbody mapping, disaster management and decentralised planning. According to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh, 12 operational communication satellites have coverage over Jammu and Kashmir. Among the major initiatives is the Satellite Integrated Landslide Assessment and Alert System (SILAAS) under ISRO’s Disaster Management Support Programme, which is being used to map landslides and generate village-level alerts. ISRO has also undertaken landslide inventory mapping covering all districts of JK for the 2023 monsoon season. kashmirlife.net

Spire Global awarded $3.7 million NOAA contract

Spire Global has been awarded a $3.7 million contract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for satellite weather data from Sept.18 through Dec. 1, 2026. Under the agreement, Spire will continue to deliver global navigation satellite system (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) data, including RO profiles with temporal resolution enhancements that provide a broader range of time sampling. spire.com

India plans BVLOS drone certification framework by end of 2026

India plans to introduce a refined certification framework enabling beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations by the end of 2026, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said at an Andhra Pradesh drone industry round table.

The AP Drone Industry CEO Round Table, hosted by the Drone Federation India (DFI) and the Government of Andhra Pradesh at Orvakal Drone City. Discussions focused on BVLOS operations, certification, testing and sandboxing, UAS traffic management (UTM), airspace access and domestic component development.

Industry representatives called for a risk-based certification framework, dedicated flight-testing environments and clear operating protocols to support the transition from experimental operations to commercially scalable drone networks. The discussions also highlighted the need for stronger UTM and live-tracking capabilities and more efficient mechanisms for drone operations in restricted and red zones. www.dronefederation.in

ISRO will not make any launch vehicle

India’s space programme is preparing for one of its biggest structural transformations yet, with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) set to gradually move away from manufacturing launch vehicles and routine satellites, handing these activities over to the private sector.

According to IN-SPACe Chairman Dr. Pawan Goenka, the transition is already underway and will allow ISRO to focus on research, advanced technologies, scientific missions and infrastructure that private companies may not be able to build on their own.

The shift has already begun with the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle, or SSLV, whose technology and production rights have been transferred to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited following a bidding process.

The next phase could be even more significant. Goenka said the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), India’s most powerful operational rocket, are also headed towards privatisation. Unlike the SSLV process, public sector companies will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming transfer process, leaving private industry to take charge. www.indiatoday.in

NASA invites ISRO to join its ambitious Moon Base programme

India and the United States are set to strengthen their cooperation in space exploration, with NASA inviting ISRO to join its ambitious Moon Base program, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords.

During the 9th meeting of the IndiaUS Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), hosted by India on 5-6 August 2026 at the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru, the two sides also agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Accords.

India and the United States advanced their discussions on civil and commercial space cooperation and also focused on pursuing future science and human space flight technology partnerships, according to the US Embassy press release. https://ddindia.co.in

MCD’s drone-based property survey pilot project to kick off soon

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to begin a pilot project using drones and other advanced mapping technologies to improve property tax assessment.

According to officials, the exercise is expected to help identify unassessed and under-assessed properties and plug revenue leakages.

The pilot follows memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed by the civic body on June 2 with four agencies under its “Pilot Drone-based Geospatial Survey and Digital Twin Initiative”.

Under the project, the agencies will independently conduct surveys using drone-based aerial imaging, LiDAR mapping, GIS-based asset mapping, Digital Twin technology, 3D city modelling and advanced data analytics. The MCD will not incur any expenditure on the pilot exercise, officials said. www.ptinews.com

Indonesia targets commercial drone operations by end of 2026

Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation is targeting commercial drones, or Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), to be operational by the end of 2026.

According to the reports, the ministry is currently drafting regulations and preparing infrastructure to support the new form of air transportation. To date, the ministry has registered around 5,000 small drones and issued over 11,000 remote pilot certificates. https://english.news.cn

Drone mapping project for digital governance in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City is implementing a project that uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to survey local areas, create digital maps, and collect data to support government management across the city’s 168 wards, communes, and special zones.

Tru Van Tho Commune is the first locality in Ho Chi Minh City and in Vietnam to partner with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology in a pilot project using UAVs to document local conditions, collect aerial imagery, and build spatial data layers for local administration.

After being selected for the pilot program, the commune began aerial surveys in June. Data collected by UAVs is providing the foundation for a visual, integrated database that can be updated regularly to support more effective local management.

Following Tru Van Tho Commune, the communes of Bau Bang, Tan Vinh Loc, Ben Cat, Can Gio, and Hung Long have also begun implementing the project. https://en.sggp.org.vn

Drone Survey for TMCP Work at Amelia North Coal Mine

Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) successfully carried out a drone survey recently at the Amelia North Coal Mine of Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited (JPVL) for Temporary Mine Closure Work (TMCP). The survey was conducted using a drone equipped with a high-resolution photogrammetry camera. The mine area, Coal Handling Plant (CHP), residential colony, and office premises were comprehensively surveyed to generate a high-resolution orthophoto mosaic.