Imaging

ISRO establishes new public sector company

Indian Space Organisation ISRO establishes NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a new public sector undertaking (PSU) to exploit the research and development work of the space agency, coproduce PSLV and launch satellites through SSLVs, reports PTI.

The main task of this PSU will involve the transfer of small technology to industry, manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) that being developed jointly by the private sector and productionisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Indian industry.

The new venture will not only look after the mass production and marketing of space-based products and services but also launch an application developed by the space organization’s centers and the constituent units of the Department of Space and marketing spin-off technologies and products and services both in India and abroad.

Airbus strengthens its imagery capabilities with Vision – 1

Airbus has enlarged its high-resolution imagery portfolio following an agreement to leverage capacity from the S1-4 satellite built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). This new imagery offer called Vision-1 delivers full end-to-end imaging operations to Airbus’ customers.

Vision-1 provides 0.9m resolution imagery in the panchromatic band and 3.5m in the multispectral bands (NIR, RGB), with a 20.8km swath width. These specifications are ideal for defence, security and agriculture applications, while this extra revisit opportunity further strengthens Airbus’ satellite fleet.

Vision-1 operations will be coordinated by Airbus in the UK, following integration into the UK Mission Operation Centre, which already operates the commercial imaging of the DMC Constellation. www.airbus.com

Phase One Industrial introduces three high performance lenses

Phase One Industrial has expanded its RS and RSM lens offering with three new high performance lenses for high-altitude aerial photography and long-range aerial and ground inspection applications.

The 300mm AF, 180mm, and 150mm MK II lenses are designed to enhance the performance and flexibility of Phase One Industrial’s iXM-RS and iXM aerial camera series. Each offers precision imagery, taking advantage of the cameras’ ultrahigh resolution backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensors, to maintain a smaller ground sample distance (GSD) while flying at higher altitudes.

With the longest focal length in the line-up, this lens offers a 5 cm GSD from 13,000 ft. It fits both iXM and iXM-RS camera models and produces superb image quality by enhancing the cameras’ ultra-high resolution BSI CMOS sensors (3.76 μm pixels). https://industrial.phaseone.com

Luxembourg Space Agency approves EUR 1 million grant to Kleos Space

Kleos Space S.A. has announced that the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) has approved an additional EUR €1,000,000 financial grant (non-equity) support for data product development.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is home to approximately 50 space companies and research labs. The space sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP is among the highest ratios in Europe.

With the funding support approval from the Luxembourg Space Agency, Kleos has entered the European Space Agency Business Applications programme process and aims to be on contract with initial funding receipts by the end of 2019. www.spacedaily.com