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Category: Industry News

Maxar and Umbra Partner to Deliver Cutting-Edge Radar Imagery for Earth Intelligence

Posted on by Oleksandr

Remote sensing giant Maxar Technologies has partnered with satellite imagery start-up Umbra to gain exclusive access to their radar imaging constellation.

The deal will allow Maxar to integrate Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data into their Earth intelligence products and services.

The demand for SAR remote sensing is rising due to its ability to capture images at night, through cloud cover, smoke, rain, and other conditions that can impair traditional optical satellites. While Maxar has agreements with other third-party SAR providers, it partnered with Umbra because the company’s high-resolution SAR is better suited to Maxar’s high-resolution optical imagery.

David Langan, Umbra’s co-founder and CEO, said the company was “thrilled to partner with Maxar and to be chosen as their first-ever SAR dedicated access partner.”

According to Tony Frazier, the head of Maxar’s public sector Earth intelligence, “Since the start of the Ukraine crisis, we’ve seen a high demand for multi-source capabilities. And especially a demand for integrating high-resolution SAR with our optical capabilities.”

The partnership will allow Maxar to directly task Umbra’s satellites and offer combined optical-SAR products by the second quarter of 2023. Umbra, based in Santa Barbara, California, currently has five satellites in orbit and plans to launch a total of 24. Maxar operates a fleet of four high-resolution imaging satellites and is the primary commercial supplier of satellite imagery to the United States government.

Frazier said the companies are “having conversations about ways to integrate future capabilities, and we do see a lot of opportunity to look at multiple sources of data.”

According to Gabe Dominocielo, Umbra’s co-founder, and president, the deal will “energize commercial SAR utilization worldwide and support Umbra’s ambitions of building and growing a robust commercial business case.” Frazier added that intelligence agencies and military commands increasingly require multi-source intelligence to track developments and trends in different regions worldwide, and “they need the data regardless of whether it’s sunny or cloudy over a location.”

The non-exclusive agreement is expected to extend over several years, energizing the commercial SAR market and supporting Umbra’s growth ambitions. The partnership promises to deliver cutting-edge, cloud-resistant, and high-quality imagery products to customers globally, further strengthening Maxar’s position as the primary supplier of commercial satellite imagery to the US government.

Saudi Arabia’s First Female Astronaut to Make History

Posted on by Oleksandr

Saudi Arabia is preparing to make space history as it sends its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station.

Barnawi will be joined by fellow Saudi astronaut Ali AlQarni, as well as investor John Shoffner and decorated former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will lead the mission.

The Ax-2 mission is the second private astronaut mission to the ISS after the successful Ax-1 mission in April 2022, which sent three paying customers and Michael López-Alegría, a former NASA astronaut, to the space station aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Like its predecessor, Ax-2 will also use SpaceX hardware and will be led by Peggy Whitson, who has spent more time in space than any other woman or American, with 665 days of spaceflight.

The historic mission will be watched closely by the world as Saudi Arabia continues to make strides in science and technology. In particular, the inclusion of Barnawi marks a significant step forward for the women of Saudi Arabia, who have historically enjoyed fewer rights than men. Women in the kingdom were not allowed to drive cars until 2018, making this mission a crucial moment for gender equality in the country.

The Saudi Press Agency notes that “human spaceflight is a symbol of countries’ superiority and global competitiveness in many fields such as technology, engineering, research, and innovation.” With the inclusion of two Saudi Arabian astronauts, the mission cements the country’s position among the few nations in the world that send two astronauts of the same nationality to the ISS simultaneously.

The Ax-2 mission is a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia. It is an opportunity to inspire young people in the country, especially women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The mission marks an exciting chapter in the nation’s history, as it continues to make strides towards technological advancement and make significant contributions to the field of space exploration.

 

US Confirms Fourth UFO Over North America

Posted on by Oleksandr

A high-stakes drama played out in the North American skies this weekend as the US intercepted the fourth UFO in the past week.

The most recent incident occurred Lake Huron, near the US-Canadian border, when the US intercepted an octagonal object flying at around 20,000 feet. The US aerospace command, NORAD, tracked the object both visually and with radar. It was destroyed over the lake to avoid potential hazards to civil aviation and to improve the chances of debris recovery, according to a statement from the Pentagon.

The first of these mysterious incursions, attributed to China, was shot down off the US East Coast last week. While the object has been described as a suspected Chinese spy balloon, China has insisted it was just a weather balloon that had gone off course. However, Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accused Beijing of “an act of belligerence” regarding the object, saying it was “done with provocation to gather intelligence data, and collect intelligence on our three major nuclear sites”.

The second and third objects, shot down over Canada’s Yukon territory and Alaska respectively, have both been described as balloons, but much smaller than the first one. The third object was shot down following orders from US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This UFO was described by Canadian officials as small and cylindrical, about the size of a Volkswagen car. Recovery teams have been searching for debris in the Yukon, while US teams have been struggling with Arctic conditions as they search near Deadhorse, Alaska, where the second object was shot down.

Despite the series of events, there has been a lack of transparency from the Biden administration. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, expressed “real concerns about why the administration is not being more forthcoming”. Republicans have also harshly criticized Biden for allowing the first balloon to drift for days across the country, potentially gathering sensitive intelligence, before having it shot down.

However, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer defended Biden’s handling of the situation, saying that an analysis of recovered debris would represent “a huge coup for the United States”. Biden has faced criticism from both sides of the aisle, but despite the lack of information, the public has been left to speculate and wonder about the true nature of these objects and what they could mean for national security.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has been on high alert and temporarily closed the airspace over Lake Michigan on Sunday, causing jittery Americans to keep a close eye on the skies. The closure was to ensure the safety of air traffic in the area during NORAD operations, and the temporary flight restriction has since been lifted.

Despite the heightened state of alert, it remains unclear what the true nature of these objects is, and why they were flying over North American airspace. The US has shot down all four “out of an abundance of caution”, but much remains unknown. As recovery teams continue to search for debris, the public awaits further information and clarification from the Biden administration. The events of the past week have been dramatic and intriguing, but with so many unanswered questions, it seems that this story is far from over.

 

Teledyne: The Future of Airborne Mapping

Posted on by Oleksandr

Teledyne Geospatial, a Netherlands-based pinoeer in geospatial technology, has taken the airborne mapping industry to the next level with the release of the Galaxy Onboard solution.

This ground-breaking solution is designed to simplify the process of delivering high-quality processed data in real-time, making airborne mapping more accessible and cost-effective for organizations of all sizes.

The Galaxy Onboard consists of a rugged onboard computer, a state-of-the-art real-time processing engine, and a comprehensive quality control system. This combination streamlines the workflow from data acquisition to data delivery, reducing processing time and eliminating manual errors. With real-time quality control during data acquisition, the Galaxy Onboard ensures the integrity of the data and enables faster turnaround times for projects of all sizes, including wide area programs and engineering-grade applications.

In emergency scenarios, the ability to process 3D data in real-time is critical for recovery, rescue, and restoration efforts. The Galaxy Onboard provides this capability, making the data available while the plane is still in the air. This real-time processing capability is a crucial advantage for organizations involved in life-threatening situations such as hurricanes, storms, power outages, and floods.

Teledyne Geospatial unifies their hardware and software expertise to provide innovative, integrated solutions to their customers. From turnkey systems to lidar and sonar workflows, they offer a range of options that support precision data collection. Their focus on customer satisfaction is evident in the intuitive design of the Galaxy Onboard solution, which provides a seamless and efficient user experience.

In conclusion, the Galaxy Onboard solution is the future of airborne mapping. Its real-time processing, user-friendly design, and exceptional value make it the ideal choice for organizations seeking a reliable and cost-effective solution. With the Galaxy Onboard, Teledyne Geospatial is setting the bar for the airborne mapping industry, making it easier and more accessible for organizations to deliver quality-controlled processed data in real-time.

Accelerate Your Space Startup: AWS Space Accelerator Program

Posted on by Oleksandr

The AWS Space Accelerator, now in its third year, is offering a hybrid technical, business, and mentorship program for space startups worldwide.

The program is aimed at helping startups develop cloud-powered solutions for space sustainability and to positively impact life on Earth. The application period for the 2023 AWS Space Accelerator is now open, and proposals are due by March 6, 2023.

The rapid increase in global space activity highlights the need for solutions that ensure long-term sustainability of operations in space. AWS is committed to providing the secure, flexible, scalable, and cost-efficient cloud solutions that startups need to tackle this challenge. In 2023, the AWS Space Accelerator will be delivered in collaboration with TechConnect, a global leader in research and innovation, to bring together venture capital, global market expertise, and startup acceleration.

This year’s program will include up to 15 startups, a “Week Zero” kick-off in-person event in April 2023, and an in-person Demo Day in July 2023. The four-week program will be held virtually to promote global participation and will focus on innovative solutions for space sustainability, both for operations in space and for impact on Earth. Startups will receive up to $100K in AWS promotional credits and mentorship from space domain and technical experts with AWS experience.

AWS encourages privately held startups at all stages of maturity to apply for this opportunity. The selection process will take into account the innovative and unique nature of the project, the overall value it brings to global space sustainability, the creative use of AWS technology, and the team’s ability to deliver. Participants will benefit from collaboration and networking with other startups, AWS customers, and members of the AWS Partner Network, as well as space-savvy venture investors for fundraising opportunities.

Join the AWS Space Accelerator and unlock the power of the cloud to drive innovation in the global space industry.

The Exploration Company Reusable Orbital Vehicles

Posted on by Oleksandr

The Exploration Company, a European startup revolutionizing the space industry, has successfully raised €40.5 million in their Series A funding round. This major milestone will finance a series of tests and demonstrations, starting with the inaugural launch of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket later this year.

At the forefront of innovation, The Exploration Company will launch the Bikini reentry demonstrator, a 40 kilogram, 60 centimeter in diameter capsule, to gather critical data on thermal protections, onboard computer performance and shape validation for larger capsules. And, as the company continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, they have already booked a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission for next year to carry a larger 1,600 kilogram demonstration capsule equipped with propulsion and a parachute for a controlled reentry.

In 2026, The Exploration Company plans to launch the full-sized Nyx orbital vehicle, measuring four meters in diameter and weighing 8,000 kilograms. This vehicle will be capable of spending several months in orbit, demonstrating its capability to perform precise operations, with the ultimate goal of docking with the International Space Station in 2027. A full-sized Nyx will be able to transport 4,000 kilograms to orbit for up to six months, and bring 2,600 kilograms back down to Earth, all for just €20,000 per kilogram.

This trailblazing startup, led by CEO and co-founder Hélène Huby, has even greater plans for the future with missions to the moon and eventual crewed missions. With Hélène’s extensive background as Vice President at Airbus Defence and Space and her experience on the European Service Module for NASA’s Orion spacecraft, The Exploration Company is well-positioned to seize the growing demand for European space station transportation and microgravity missions.

The Exploration Company’s funding round was led by Swedish early-stage investor EQT Ventures and Red River West of France, and supported by investors including Promus Ventures, Cherry Ventures, Vsquared, Omnes Capital, July Fund, Partech, Possible Ventures, Habert Dassault Finance, Schlumberger, and Sista Fund. With a total funding to date of €47.3 million, The Exploration Company is poised for takeoff and ready to shape the future of space exploration.

Remembering Michael Jones — the Creator of Google Earth

Posted on by Oleksandr

Michael Jones, the creator of Google Earth, passed away on January 18th. His passing is a great loss not only for the field of cartography and geospatial intelligence, but for the billions around the world whose lives his genius transformed.

Michael Jones
Copyright © Jarle Naustvik 2011

Michael Jones was a true trailblazer. As the former Chief Technology Advocate at Google, he was responsible for leading the development of one of the most revolutionary and popular mapping platforms of our time: Google Earth. This platform not only made it easier for people to access and explore maps of the world, but it also democratised the field of cartography by making it accessible to people of all backgrounds and skill levels.

“Michael Jones’s work has been nothing short of revolutionary. His ability to blend technology and user-centric approach has redefined the field of cartography, and his contributions will continue to be felt for generations to come,” commented Baroness Lynda Chalker, President of the Royal Geographical Society.

Jones understood that the key to making geography accessible was to create a platform that was not only functional, but also intuitive and engaging. Google Earth was the result of this approach, and it became one of the most widely used mapping platforms in the world, with millions of people using it to explore the world around them.

In 2020, Jones was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the field by being awarded the Society’s Patron’s Gold Medal. This prestigious award is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of geospatial information. It is a testament to the impact that Jones had on the field.

“Everyone is inventive,” Jones later commented in an interview. “You need only ignore limits and ask yourself ‘how should it be?’”

“Inventors are just laborers toiling to make things be as we feel they should,” he said. “For me, a key trait is passion for ideas, loving them as parents love children and grandchildren: embracing them, sacrificing for them, excusing the worst and believing the best of them, being patient and supportive with an enduring love as they mature. Like children, they take time to develop into the brightness of their promise. I have been this way all my life.”

Jones’s work has not only made the world more accessible, but it has also changed the way we understand and interact with it. His vision to redefine mapping from static lines and symbols to an interactive geographical web of context and information has left a lasting impact on the field. This innovation will continue to shape the way we understand and interact with the world around us.

Jones’s legacy continues to be an inspiration for those working towards making the world a more accessible and understandable place. His name will go down in history as the man who transformed the map as we knew it, forever.

 

Space-Powered Drugs – Fighting Disease from Outer Space

Posted on by Oleksandr

The National Stem Cell Foundation is leading the way in space-based research to combat debilitating diseases such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis (MS).

With funding secured early this year, the foundation will launch a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of 2023 to test drugs for these conditions for the first time in orbit.

This will be the foundation’s fifth mission to the ISS, which has been conducting pioneering neurodegeneration studies on the space station since 2019. Thanks to the ISS’s microgravity environment, researchers can observe how cells interact in a way that is not possible on Earth. This allows them to identify what went wrong and why, as well as test new drugs or cell therapies to prevent further deterioration.

The research conducted by the foundation utilises specially engineered organoids, created by reprogramming skin or blood cells sourced from individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease and progressive multiple sclerosis. These organoids are designed to mimic the characteristics of brain cells, providing a unique model for studying the underlying mechanisms of these conditions. The organisation hopes that by studying these cells in the microgravity environment, they will find treatments that can help not only the millions of people affected by Parkinson’s and MS, but also other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ALS.

According to Paula Grisanti, the foundation’s CEO, “You can simulate microgravity in a laboratory by centrifuge, but those cells are confused, and if you’re looking under a microscope on Earth, they’re slightly flattened.” She added that “the ability to understand how neurodegeneration begins or can be stopped is important for astronaut health too.”

Additionally, the foundation’s research has implications for astronaut health as well, as space agencies plan for long-duration stays on the Moon and Mars. The foundation is also dedicated to supporting research that seeks to unlock the potential benefits of space-based studies for orthopedic diseases. One area of focus is the investigation of cartilage growth, with the aim of developing new and innovative treatments for knee replacements and other joint-related conditions.

Grisanti said “If we already know that cartilage grows faster in space, how can we use that information? What kind of an experiment could you fly with cartilage cells to rebuild knees, rather than have knee replacements?”

As the cost of access to space continues to decrease, companies are also exploring ways to manufacture other constructs in orbit, such as more uniform crystals for fiber optic cables and better rubber for tires. The pharmaceutical industry could also potentially produce drugs from orbit, offering the opportunity for new and improved drug production.

Grisanti added “I think that research in space will be big for the pharmaceutical industry,” not least because it offers the “opportunity to make drugs differently or improve their production.”

The National Stem Cell Foundation’s pioneering research in space is a significant step forward in the fight against debilitating diseases. This project has the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. With costs to send resources to and from orbit expected to decrease in the future, the possibilities for this type of research are endless.

First Orbital Space Launch to make UK History

Posted on by Oleksandr

The first-ever rocket launch from UK soil will take place tonight (Monday 9th January) from Spaceport Cornwall, at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

Using a two-stage-to-orbit air launch, Virgin Orbit’s modified 747 jumbo jet – Cosmic Girl – will take off with the LauncherOne rocket attached beneath its wing.

Marking the beginning of the UK’s future strategy for space, this launch is part of the Start Me Up mission – the first launch of Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket outside of the USA.

The rocket will be released at 35,000ft over the Atlantic Ocean, where the first-stage engine will fire to start the ascent to orbit.

In total, nine small satellites will be placed into orbit at an altitude of 555km, in what is known as a horizontal launch. These satellites will have a variety of civil and defence applications, ranging from ocean monitoring to navigational technology.

“What we’ve seen over the last eight years is this building of excitement towards something very aspirational and different for Cornwall,” said Melissa Thorpe, head of Spaceport Cornwall.

Whilst Josh Western, CEO of Space Forge, said: “For the first time, the UK has all the pieces of the jigsaw to be able to design and develop satellites, launch them from the UK and operate them from the UK.”

Today’s historic mission represents the first commercial launch from western Europe and the first international launch for Virgin Orbit!

 

Don’t miss this exciting moment for Cornwall and the UK! The Start Me Up mission will be live-streamed on Virgin Orbit’s YouTube channel from 1:15pm PT / 9:15 GMT: Virgin Orbit – YouTube

Photo Credit: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live

Maxar Technologies Acquired by Advent International

Posted on by Oleksandr

Today (December 16th), Maxar Technologies announced it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Advent International. The all-cash transaction values Maxar at an enterprise value of approximately $6.4 billion.

Following the close of the transaction, Maxar will remain a US-controlled and operated company.

“As a private company, Maxar will be able to accelerate investments in next-generation satellite technologies and data insights that are vital to the Company’s government and commercial customers, as well as pursue select, strategic M&A to further enhance the Company’s portfolio of solutions”, Maxar commented in a statement.

“This includes supporting the successful delivery of the new Legion satellite constellation, accelerating the launch of Legion 7 and 8 satellites, and further growing the Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure businesses through investments in next-generation capabilities, such as advanced machine learning and 3D mapping.”

With Advent bringing its 35+ year investment track record with significant experience in global security and defense, this transaction will support Maxar to accelerate the development of next-generation satellite technologies and data insights for its customers.