Archives for 2024

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.”

AAC Clyde Space has won a EUR 0.5 million euros (approx. SEK 5.8 M) order for a Starbuck power system and related services — the company expects to have completed delivery of this order during the third quarter of 2025.

The client, a repeat customer for the Group, has opted to remain unnamed.

“Our Starbuck power systems have become a standard for small satellites, illustrating the strength of our strategy to standardize components for this category of satellites. It enables both us and our clients a robust and efficient process when selecting key components for different missions,” said AAC Clyde Space CEO, Luis Gomes.

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) has launched Project Centinela , a new program aiming to equip the world’s leading biodiversity scientists and conservation advocates with an unprecedented array of high-resolution, high-frequency satellite imagery, analytics, and Planetary Variables.

As part of Planet’s mission, over the next three years the program will help support teams working at the forefront of the biodiversity crisis to monitor and safeguard up to 50 of the world’s vulnerable biodiversity hotspots.

Planet owns and operates the largest constellation of Earth imaging satellites in history, capturing the Earth on a near-daily cadence. This high-frequency satellite imagery enables communities and researchers to see Earth’s changing surface, characterize ecosystem health, and track the success of conservation and restoration efforts over time. With access to Planet’s Planetary Variables, such as Forest Carbon, Soil Moisture, and Land Surface Temperature, Project Centinela participants will have a unique suite of tools to derive quantifiable insights that advance conservation of their target sites.

At its onset, Project Centinela has already engaged teams in eight biodiversity-vulnerable locations across the globe including: the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, Vale do Javari in Brazil, Rio Matos Ramsar site in Bolivia, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eastern Chimpanzee Conservation Areas in western Tanzania and Uganda, northern coastal Mozambique, Terai Arc Landscape in Nepal, and Gunung Naning Protection Forest in Borneo, Indonesia.

As a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), Planet’s mission is to accelerate humanity toward a more sustainable, secure, and prosperous world, by illuminating environmental and social change. Project Centinela advances Planet’s mission as part of its contributions to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Institutions from these sites are already accessing these data to better advance their work:

Microsoft AI For Good Research Lab
“Tracking and detecting deforestation is essential for preserving our planet’s biodiversity. We are proud to collaborate with Planet Labs, which stands out for its unique ability to provide daily, high-resolution satellite data that is critical to this mission. Their unparalleled capabilities enable crucial conservation efforts, and together we support the courageous staff at Virunga National Park in their vital work,” said Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft and Director of the Microsoft AI For Good Lab.

Jane Goodall Institute
Planet’s Planetary Variables will provide new insights into chimpanzee habitats and threats, a core area of focus at the Jane Goodall Institute. “Through this partnership, JGI will support implementation of the Uganda National Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy and Tanzania Chimpanzee Conservation Action Plan. Forest carbon, soil moisture, crop biomass and other products will help enable our local communities and government partners to better monitor and manage their land use plans and protected areas, from village land and local authority forest reserves to National Parks, supporting their livelihoods and contributing towards conservation of the most vulnerable biodiversity hotspots,” said Dr. Lilian Pintea, VP Conservation Science, Jane Goodall Institute.

“I am very proud of the JGI partnership with Planet because supporting solution-oriented teams with powerful technology tools is critical to addressing the existential threats to the health of the planet that all life depends upon,” said Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace.

WildMon
“WildMon equips front-line conservationists with a tech ecosystem to measure the impact of their actions on biodiversity, reducing the reliance on external experts. By leveraging Planetary Variables—key environmental and climatic data crucial to biodiversity health—we are excited to contribute to Project Centinela. We will explore how Planet’s data can enhance community-led decision making in Borneo, enabling Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) to strengthen the conservation work they are already leading,” said Chrissy Durkin, President & Chief Development Officer, WildMon.

Osa Conservation
“As a ground-up NGO working in the tropics, it’s challenging to gather the type of actionable data, at both large geographical and fine temporal scale, that we need to guide our conservation actions and to monitor the impacts of our restoration efforts on the landscape. This project will allow us to assess that impact and guide our conservation plans into the future. And that is critical for us and our local partners to showcase how ground-up efforts can have major environmental impact and uplift, translating actions into results for partners, donors, and maybe someday, investors,” said Dr. Andrew Whitworth, Executive Director, Osa Conservation.

“Time is of the essence. Ecosystems around the world are in peril, and we risk losing some of Earth’s most iconic species. We now have the tools to tackle the biodiversity crisis at speed and scale,” said Planet Chief Impact Officer Andrew Zolli. “Leveraging daily satellite data and modern AI, we can monitor critical hotspots and tackle threats before it’s too late. The biggest challenges remain around access to this data, and Project Centinela is leading the way in getting these game-changing tools into the hands of scientists and stewards around the world.”

“In the hands of communities, decision makers, and researchers, Planet’s powerful imagery and tools help us see Earth’s changing surface, characterize ecosystem and biodiversity conditions, and track the success of conservation and restoration efforts over time,” said Amy Rosenthal, Planet’s Senior Global Director for Conservation Initiatives.

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) has successfully completed a critical milestone: the environmental testing of LizzieSat-2 (LS-2) — this key achievement comes as the Company prepares for the upcoming launch, which is planned to carry LS-2 into LEO later this year.

The environmental testing, conducted by Element U.S. Space & Defense in Orlando, subjected the fully integrated LS-2 satellite to comprehensive random vibration tests, simulating launch conditions and verifying its structural integrity. These tests confirmed that LS-2 and its instruments can withstand more than three times the maximum predicted launch environment while maintaining full functionality in orbit.

Carol Craig, CEO of Sidus Space said, “The completion of environmental testing represents a crucial milestone for Sidus Space as we move towards the launch of LizzieSat-2. This testing validates that our satellite can withstand the rigorous conditions of launch and space. I commend our team for their diligent efforts in refining our processes based on insights from our inaugural LizzieSat mission in March. We are focused on the upcoming launch and the expansion of our LizzieSat offerings, which will be a key driver of our growth strategy.”

“LizzieSat-1, which has now been in orbit for over 200 days since launching in March, is performing well,” said John Curry, Chief Mission Operations Officer. “Not all companies are fortunate to celebrate first-launch success.  The Sidus team worked tirelessly to gather insights and lessons from LS-1, enabling us to swiftly implement enhancements for LS-2 to not only address increasing customer demands but expand data collection capabilities.”

Last month, Q-KON installed a Eutelsat OneWeb LEO system at the Platinum Health Modikwa Clinic, the first time that a LEO satellite service has been used in the healthcare industry in South Africa.

Situated at the Modikwa Mine in Mpumalanga near Burgersfort, Modikwa Clinic is one of 23 healthcare facilities run by Platinum Health – a medical scheme and healthcare provider that specializes in meeting the needs of employees and their families in the platinum and chrome mining sector.

This Twoobii-OneWeb solution was made possible through a partnership between Q-KON, Gijima and Platinum Health, and delivers seamless satellite connectivity that perfectly integrates with Platinum Health’s systems and network infrastructure. The Twoobii-OneWeb solution has been developed on the global Eutelsat OneWeb constellation with additional network integration, quality-of-service profiles and service level delivery requirements in order to meet the needs of South African enterprises. This solution is integrated with Gijima’s core network at Teraco Isando to ensure the minimal latency, and provide visibility to the Gijima managed services team.

Like many such facilities, Modikwa Clinic is located in a remote rural area which can experience challenges when using conventional and terrestrial communications links. This makes mining healthcare facilities a prime candidate for the use of Smart Satellite Services such as Twoobii-OneWeb LEO as part of the ongoing digitization of healthcare provisioning.

In a groundbreaking trial at the Platinum Health Modikwa Clinic, Gijima has successfully transitioned from fixed wireless access to a state-of-the-art Twoobii-OneWeb LEO satellite link. This pilot program, conducted over two weeks without the users’ knowledge, was designed to ensure unbiased results and has demonstrated impressive results that have led to the immediate initiation of a second installation.

The trial replaced the clinic’s previous fixed wireless system with the advanced Twoobii-OneWeb LEO satellite technology. The new satellite link has delivered substantial improvements when measured against the trial success criteria of markedly reduced latency, a reliable and fast connection, and an absence of downtime.

The digital transformation trend in global healthcare – driven by a determination to provide improved patient outcomes – requires always-on connectivity in order for the industry to truly move online. Through digitization, healthcare service providers can be more productive, and treat more patients. With access to centralized patient records, they can accelerate the diagnosis process and ensure that they are delivering personalized patient care as part of the new, patient-centric model.

The Platinum Health management team has, therefore, agreed to continue the service and contract negotiations are under way with Gijima to facilitate access to Twoobii-OneWeb LEO services across the Platinum Health WAN. Having always-on satellite connectivity will further enhance the benefits of Platinum Health membership for mine employees and their families.

“Our Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) model depends on our own health service providers and facilities having constant online access,” said Quantin van Rensburg, CIO for Platinum Health. “This allows all service providers to access centralized patient records and results in streamlined, seamless diagnosis and treatment, and improved patient satisfaction.”

“We are committed to enabling Platinum Health to deliver patient-centric care at all their healthcare facilities,” said Louis Kirstein, Solutions Architect at Gijima. “The Twoobii-OneWeb LEO Smart Satellite Services connectivity will enhance the interface between the scheme, healthcare professionals and patients through providing additional digital touchpoints, and enabling mobile-friendly services,.”

“The Twoobii-OneWeb LEO solution provided with Gijima to Platinum Health provides for a fully managed and tightly integrated WAN link that meets the requirement for a reliable always-on, anywhere broadband option with applications in emergency disaster response, healthcare training, health education and disease management strategies – all of which are especially relevant to South Africa’s mining industry,” said Hendrik Bezuidenhout, Q-KON Account Director.

AAC Clyde Space has won a 1.025 million euros order for four Starbuck power systems and related services — the company expects to have completed delivery of the order during the second quarter of 2025.

The power systems will be used in a planned constellation. The name of the client cannot be disclosed at this time.