Archives for October 2024

Using data from an instrument designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory the nonprofit Carbon Mapper has released the first methane and carbon dioxide detections from the Tanager-1 satellite — the detections highlight methane plumes in Pakistan and Texas, as well as a carbon dioxide plume in South Africa.

The data contributes to Carbon Mapper’s goal to identify and measure greenhouse gas point-source emissions on a global scale and make that information accessible and actionable. 

Enabled by Carbon Mapper, and built by Planet Labs PBC, Tanager-1 launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on August 16 and has been collecting data to verify that its imaging spectrometer, which is based on technology developed at NASA JPL, is functioning properly. Both Planet Labs PBC and JPL are members of the philanthropically funded Carbon Mapper Coalition.

The data used to produce the Pakistan image (above) was collected over the city of Karachi on September 19th and shows a roughly 2.5-mile-long (4-kilometer-long) methane plume emanating from a landfill. Carbon Mapper’s preliminary estimate of the source emissions rate is more than 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms) of methane released per hour.

“The first greenhouse gas images from Tanager-1 are exciting and are a compelling sign of things to come,” said James Graf, director for Earth Science and Technology at JPL. “The satellite plays a crucial role in detecting and measuring methane and carbon dioxide emissions. The mission is a giant step forward in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.”

In the 1980s, JPL helped pioneer the development of imaging spectrometers with AVIRIS (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer), and in 2022, NASA installed the imaging spectrometer EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation), developed at JPL, aboard the International Space Station.

A descendant of those instruments, the imaging spectrometer aboard Tanager-1 can measure hundreds of wavelengths of light reflected from Earth’s surface. Each chemical compound on the ground and in the atmosphere reflects and absorbs different combinations of wavelengths, which give it a “spectral fingerprint” that researchers can identify. Using this approach, Tanager-1 will help researchers detect and measure emissions down to the facility level.

Once in full operation, the spacecraft will scan about 116,000 square miles (300,000 square kilometers) of Earth’s surface per day. Methane and carbon dioxide measurements collected by Tanager-1 will be publicly available on the Carbon Mapper data portal.

More About Carbon Mapper
Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit organization focused on facilitating timely action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Its mission is to fill gaps in the emerging global ecosystem of methane and carbon dioxide monitoring systems by delivering data at facility scale that is precise, timely, and accessible to empower science-based decision making and action. The organization is leading the development of the Carbon Mapper constellation of satellites supported by a public-private partnership composed of Planet Labs PBC, JPL, the California Air Resources Board, Arizona State University, and RMI, with funding from High Tide Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, and other philanthropic donors.

The University of Manitoba (UM) and Magellan Aerospace (Magellan), in collaboration with Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), and the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), are working together to to monitor and protect the Earth’s orbital environment.

Magellan and UM, both based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, are currently partnered on the DND-funded Redwing space domain awareness (SDA) microsatellite project. Redwing is a research and development (R&D) microsatellite valued at $15.8 million that is being designed, built, and operated in Canada.

Redwing will monitor objects orbiting Earth to help reduce future risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris or human-caused interference. Magellan is responsible for designing, building, and testing the Redwing spacecraft as well as for mission operations. Other Redwing mission partners include ABB Inc. (main optical payload), C-CORE (operations support), as well as York University and UM (R&D support).

In April 2024, Canada’s DND signed a contract option with Magellan for $900,000 to add a companion nanosatellite to the Redwing mission. The nanosatellite, known as Little Innovator in Space Situational Awareness (LISSA), will be integrated with the Redwing satellite and will be deployed from Redwing sometime after launch once the two spacecraft have achieved an orbit at the designated altitude.

Leveraging the expertise provided by Ferguson and UM’s STARLab, Magellan is contracting the design and build of LISSA with UM. LISSA will follow in the same orbit as Redwing, operating some distance from it in a tandem in-track formation. In addition to performing its own observations, LISSA will serve as a convenient nearby object with which to exercise Redwing’s own monitoring and imaging capabilities.

LISSA will focus on observing satellites as they pass over the Earth’s South Pole, a region that is not well-covered by ground-based space surveillance sensors. Reflected light from ice and clouds during the Antarctic summer presents a significant technical challenge when imaging other space objects in visible light. For this reason, the UK’s Dstl is providing a short-wave infrared camera to be hosted on the LISSA nanosatellite, which will be less impacted by light scattered from the ice sheet. Also, many satellite materials are more reflective in the short-wave infrared increasing the likelihood of detecting them.

Both Redwing and LISSA are expected to launch in 2027. Both satellites will be operated by Magellan with support from UM’s STARLab, communicating through ground antenna stations owned by C-CORE in Inuvik, Northwest Territories and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Mission data will be analyzed by DRDC and Dstl.

“Collaborations between industry, academia, and government are the foundation of innovation in the space sector. These partnerships merge cutting-edge research with industry expertise, accelerating advancements that will shape the future of space exploration and will cultivate the next generation of space professionals. By working together on LISSA and Redwing, we can yield superior results in space domain awareness that would be impossible in isolation,” said Corey Mack, Magellan’s Director of Engineering and Space Systems.

“With new launch companies providing unprecedented access to space, we need to research and develop new ways of monitoring space objects from small spacecraft to prevent collisions and to maintain space sustainability for the entire planet. This is a challenge of global scale, requiring international collaboration between industry and academia,” said Philip Ferguson, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and lead of UM’s Space Technology and Advanced Research Laboratory (STARLab). “Research partnerships are critical to the future of the global space industry. This project between the UM, Magellan, DND, and Dstl will create sustainable technologies for the next generation of satellite missions.”

“The space domain continues to change and evolve and requires space faring nations to innovate to keep informed of the security situation in the space domain. DRDC is thrilled to have Dstl participate in the Redwing mission to help grow both nations’ defence space programs,” said Scott McLelland, DRDC Director of R&D for the Defend North America strategic focus area.

“The collaboration with our Canadian partners will enable us to improve the characterisation of objects and maintain security in space to protect our mutual interests,” said Dr. Gemma Bagheri, Dstl Space Research and Development Program Manager.

About Magellan Aerospace Corporation
Magellan Aerospace Corporation is a global aerospace company that provides complex assemblies and systems solutions to aircraft and engine manufacturers, and defence and space agencies worldwide. Magellan designs and manufactures aeroengine and aerostructure assemblies and components for aerospace markets, advanced proprietary products for military and space markets, and provides engine and component repair and overhaul services worldwide. Magellan is a public company whose shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MAL), with operating units throughout North America, Europe, and India.

About University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba is recognized as Western Canada’s first university. It is part of the U15, ranking among Canada’s top research-intensive universities and is Manitoba’s only medical-doctoral post-secondary institution. The University provides exceptional liberal arts, science and professional programs of study, inspiring undergraduate and post-graduate students to positively impact their communities as globally engaged citizens. UM campuses are located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anisininewuk, Dakota Oyate and Dene, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of Reconciliation and collaboration.

HawkEye 360 has announced the planned decommissioning of the firm’s pioneering Cluster 1 Pathfinder satellites by the end of 2024 — this decommissioning marks the conclusion of the first-generation satellite cluster that transformed the commercial RF industry and laid the foundation for the company’s growth and innovation.

In recognition of the significant achievements made during its service, HawkEye 360 will celebrate the satellites retirement this December, honoring the enduring legacy of the Pathfinder trio.

Launched in December of 2018, the Pathfinder satellites were HawkEye 360’s proof-of-concept mission. Pathfinder demonstrated that a commercial company could reliably provide RF data, a capability previously dominated by the government and classified sectors. Initially designed for a two-year mission, these resilient satellites far exceeded their life expectancy, thanks to the high-quality bus provided by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL). This novel design allowed Pathfinder to continue supporting research and became fully operational, successfully serving critical customer needs and supporting key missions worldwide.

Pathfinder’s success laid a strong foundation for HawkEye 360’s subsequent growth. The innovative approach to hardware development—enhancing antennas, filters, and frequency coverage — allowed the company to advance its capabilities continually. During Pathfinder’s six-year mission, HawkEye 360 validated the commercial viability of RF data collection. It helped expand the HawkEye 360 constellation to 31 satellites, setting new standards for reliability and performance in the industry.

As Pathfinder retires, Cluster 11 will take its place, significantly enhancing the constellation’s capabilities. Scheduled to launch by the end of 2024, Cluster 11 incorporates the latest technology and will operate in a mid-inclination orbit, complementing Clusters 6, 8, and 9 to expand coverage in the high-demand equatorial region.

Featuring a new antenna, the company is actively experimenting with global lower-frequency collection, enhancing the ability to detect and analyze a broader range of RF signals. Notably, this transition will not affect our customers, as our new clusters offer increased capacity to fulfill the mission previously handled by Cluster 1. Cluster 11, the first cluster vibe-tested at HawkEye 360’s Herndon facility, will usher in the company’s new era of advanced technology.

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has won a seven figure contract to deliver non-Earth Imaging (NEI) services to support the customer’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities — as part of the contract, BlackSky will integrate Gen-2 satellite imagery of on-orbit spacecraft into the customer’s collection of SDA assets.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is vital for identifying, characterizing, and tracking space objects and their operational environment. SSA data is critical for maintaining space safety and facilitating real-time space traffic coordination. The data is used to help space operators predict and avoid collisions between objects or avoid debris from fragmentation events, meteor storms, or other natural events that might also affect operations.

SSA is foundational to all space safety and real time space traffic coordination activities and is a critical component of SDA, which is the ability of decision makers to understand, as completely as necessary, their current and predicted operational environments.

Delivering NEI capabilities gives BlackSky the ability to leverage underutilized capacity typically associated with satellites passing over the ocean or satellites in eclipse, traveling across the dark side of Earth. This enhances BlackSky’s service offering and supports mission success across the realm of space security.

“BlackSky’s expansion into SDA unlocks additional value from our current high-resolution Gen-2 constellation and immediately meets our customer’s demand for NEI solutions,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “Our continued momentum in the NEI space demonstrates technical agility and a strategic commitment to innovation that provides reliable, practical value to Space Situational Awareness operations.”

L3Harris recently reached a significant milestone when it shipped its fifth Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), a critical component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). 

The instrument captures sophisticated data on Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landscape that is used in seasonal, short-and long-term monitoring and forecasting. The CrlS is now ready for future integration onto the final spacecraft in the JPSS constellation.

CrIS is the world’s most advanced hyperspectral sounder and a key sensor that uses advanced infrared technology to measure 3D temperature and moisture from the atmosphere. NOAA uses daily measurements from CrIS to enhance its weather prediction model forecasts, including enhanced rainfall predictions and more targeted tracking ability for severe storms including tornadoes and hurricanes.

In addition to measuring temperature atmospheric pressure, CrIS can detect the concentration of greenhouse gases and measuring changes in ocean surface temperatures. It is also used to track long range smoke movement, helping to better predict wildfire impacts across the U.S.

L3Harris has provided the CrIS instruments on all of NOAA’s JPSS satellites, the first of which launched in November of 2017. Both JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 are scheduled to launch in the coming years to extend global coverage by these critical LEO assets through 2040.

The L3Harris-built CrIS, which was built at the company’s Ft. Wayne, Indiana, facility and is part of a suite of next-generation weather solutions that include the company’s proven Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) ground heritage, both designed to improve short- and long-range forecast accuracy and severe storm tracking. These solutions include a GeoXO imager and modernized GOES-R ground system for the U.S. as well as imaging and sounding technology for Japan – all awarded as part of the more than $1 billion in weather-related contracts L3Harris received last year.

“This delivery is the culmination of decades of L3Harris dedication to meteorological precision on the JPSS program”, said Rob Mitrevski, L3Harris Vice President and General Manager of Spectral Solutions. “CrIS has improved NOAA’s forecasting models by providing the world’s leading high-resolution, three-dimensional data which elevates the accuracy and promptness of weather predictions. At L3Harris, we continue to leverage our 65-year legacy and deep subject matter expertise while innovating and evolving our sounding technologies to meet critical current and future weather monitoring needs across the world.”

UK telecom regulator Ofcom has published in its consultation documentation that Amazon’s proposed constellation of broadband satellites (‘Project Kuiper’) is developing technical solutions for Direct-to-Device (D2D) cellular connectivity. The Ofcom consultation document is designed to assess future spectrum demand.

Ofcom, in its consultation questionnaire, asked whether Kuiper “had an interest in offering D2D services or expanding an existing service in the UK?” It also asked “Would your D2D service compliment or compete with services delivered over existing mobile?”

The Project Kuiper response said, “Amazon is exploring options for S2D services and is seeking to develop the most versatile technical solutions for S2D offerings. Certainly, the value proposition is for D2D services to compliment the use case of existing terrestrial mobile wireless service because D2D offers service beyond the reach of existing terrestrial mobile networks.”

Kuiper added, “Amazon respectfully urges Ofcom to base new rules for D2D services on the outcome of WRC-27. Any services introduced prior to the next WRC are likely to be limited bandwidth services for messaging. While these services are an important milestone, we expect any D2D service offering 5G experience are likely to come after the [WRC] Conference.”

NOVI has launched STORM (Space-edge Technology for Orbital Real-time Monitoring), a groundbreaking space-edge computing platform that is poised to redefine how satellite data is processed and used in real-time. 

STORM will empower industries, analytics firms, researchers, and developers to tap into satellite-based data directly from orbit, enabling real-time, in-space data processing and analysis. This technology will significantly reduce costs and latency, delivering actionable intelligence faster than ever before, crucial for industries where cost and/or rapid decision-making are important. 

As demand for Earth Observation (EO) data soars, STORM will further allow users to develop, test, and refine edge-processing algorithms on NOVI’s multi-sensor satellites (expected to launch within the next 18 months), transforming real-time, autonomous decision-making on-orbit. 

NOVI invites enterprises and developers to access STORM and collaborate with NOVI on their proposed use-cases. Selected Beta users will play an integral role in shaping this cutting-edge technology and applying it to critical edge-processing tasks within a relevant environment. 

STORM represents a giant leap forward in space-edge computing, with wide-ranging applications in agriculture, defense, energy, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and beyond. By dramatically lowering the cost of space-based intelligence, STORM democratizes access and accelerates the development of transformative applications across industries for enterprises and a diverse marketplace of developer and user communities. 

“STORM enables satellites to process data in real-time without the need to constantly downlink large amounts of raw imagery to Earth, unlocking massive efficiencies for space-sensor usage and autonomy,” said Michael Bartholomeusz, CEO of NOVI. “Our goal is to open access to space-derived intelligence, providing lower costs and latency, which will stimulate the creation of new applications and innovation across multiple sectors.” 

About NOVI 
NOVI is at the forefront of space-edge processing, delivering innovative hardware and AI technologies that are reshaping the future of aerospace and satellite operations. With flight-proven edge-processing hardware delivered for testing on the ISS, and upcoming Transporter launches featuring its second-generation edge processor built on AMD Versal architecture, NOVI is set to revolutionize the collection and widespread proliferation of EO intelligence

ICEYE has introduced Dwell Precise, a new imaging mode that adds advanced capability to ICEYE’s line of Dwell products and builds on the release of Dwell Fine that occurred in March of 2024.

Dwell Precise provides a 25 centimeter resolution and is based on the 1200 MHz radar bandwidth announced earlier this year. 1200 MHz is currently the maximum that commercial satellites are allowed to use.

ICEYE’s Dwell Precise uniqueness comes from the combination of high-quality data with high resolution, and it will make a difference when the identification of smaller objects or targets is required, e.g. types of vehicles and types of military equipment, without the need for additional intelligence sources.

As a SAR satellite orbits the Earth its radar signals focus on a specific area of the planet’s surface to create an image based on return data. Like other modes in the Dwell product line, Dwell Precise data are taken from a much more comprehensive range of angles, allowing it to spot objects through tree cover and foliage. 

ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest constellation of SAR satellites. The company first introduced Dwell mode in May of 2023, and with the introduction of Dwell Fine in March of 2024 and the launch of Dwell Precise, ICEYE further underlines its commitment to constant innovation in serving private and public sector organizations globally with the most advanced commercial Earth Observation (EO) capabilities and SAR satellite data. 

John Cartwright, ICEYE’s SVP and Head of Data Product, said, “Dwell Precise will be the industry’s highest fidelity 25 cm product. Dwell Precise represents the culmination of the industry’s best imaging capabilities and adds significant depth to our line of Dwell products. The increased resolution will allow ICEYE’s customers to identify objects and features on the earth’s surface with far greater clarity than was available previously, all while benefiting from the day/night all-weather imaging capabilities of SAR.” 

“The launch of Dwell Precise highlights ICEYE’s commitment to meeting the evolving mission sets of our customers through constant innovation and identification of ways to improve our products and services,” said Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US.

Kepler Communications US Inc., a subsidiary of Kepler Communications, is partnering with NASA to exchange information and explore demonstration opportunities through a non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement under the agency’s Communications Services Project (CSP).

This agreement will provide NASA insights into Kepler’s space data-relay capabilities, which complement the set of existing funded Space Act Agreements under CSP. Kepler will collaborate with NASA on current and future on-orbit capabilities that provide meaningful demonstrations of key NASA mission use cases.

Additionally, the demonstrations will provide valuable feedback to Kepler as the company launches its space data relay network. The Kepler Network provides customers with always-available coverage in LEO with sub-second end-to-end latency, gigabit throughputs, and onboard processing to enable access to space-generated data in near-real time.

NASA’s CSP was created to transition near-Earth missions from government to commercially owned space-relay communication networks. The project plans to deliver operational services to the Near Space Network by 2031.

“The hybrid architecture of our optical pathfinder satellites could provide many space-relay demonstration opportunities for NASA,” said Robert Conrad, Vice President of Business Development for Kepler Communications US. “Kepler is well-positioned to support NASA as they explore options to transition to commercially owned and operated communications systems.”