17/08/2024
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Φsat-2, ESA’s groundbreaking cubesat designed to revolutionise Earth remark with synthetic intelligence, has launched.
The cubesat launched into its journey into area on 16 August at 20:56 CEST (11:56 native time) on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg House Power Base in California, US, built-in by Exolaunch as a part of the Transporter-11 rideshare mission, which additionally included ESA’s Arctic Climate Satellite tv for pc.
At 21:50 CEST, Φsat-2 deployed from the launch car and at 23:47 CEST the Svalbard floor station in Norway obtained the vital sign indicating that Φsat-2 is now safely in orbit.
Φsat-2 will push the boundaries of Earth remark, demonstrating how AI applied sciences can be utilized to advance how we observe Earth from area. The miniature satellite tv for pc is supplied with a state-of-the-art multispectral digicam and highly effective AI laptop that analyses and processes imagery whereas in orbit. It will show vital for catastrophe response efforts, maritime monitoring, environmental safety and extra.
ESA’s Director of Earth Remark Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, commented, “We’re thrilled at present to launch Φsat-2, which can exhibit the transformative energy of synthetic intelligence in Earth remark. This mission heralds a brand new period of actionable insights from area, promising smarter and extra environment friendly methods of monitoring our planet.”
Nicola Melega, ESA’s Φsat-2 Technical Officer, added, “The Φsat-2 mission how superior AI expertise can rework our skill to observe and reply to modifications on Earth, making area knowledge extra actionable and impactful than ever earlier than.”
Whereas most AI processing happens on the bottom after the information has been downloaded, ESA’s Φsat-2 satellite tv for pc will do that in real-time. As an alternative of downlinking giant quantities of uncooked knowledge, together with these obscured by clouds, the onboard apps can course of these photographs immediately, making certain that solely probably the most important info is distributed again to Earth. This innovation offers tangible advantages enhances knowledge transmission and accelerates choice making.
Orbiting Earth at an altitude of 510 km, the satellite tv for pc’s multispectral digicam photographs Earth in seven totally different bands within the seen to near-infrared a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The 6U Cubesat platform, designed and developed by OpenCosmos, runs AI apps that may be simply put in and operated remotely from Earth.
These apps can present actionable knowledge for environmental safety and set a brand new customary in space-based AI expertise. At launch, Φsat-2 runs the next apps on board:
Cloud detection
In contrast to conventional satellites that downlink all captured photographs, together with these obscured by clouds, Φsat-2 processes these photographs immediately in orbit, making certain that solely clear, usable photographs are despatched again to Earth.
Developed by KP Labs, this utility also can classify clouds and supply insights into cloud distribution. This offers customers extra flexibility when it’s time to resolve whether or not a picture is usable or not.
Road map era
The Sat2Map utility, developed by CGI, converts satellite tv for pc imagery into road maps. This functionality is especially useful for emergency response groups, enabling them to establish accessible roads throughout disasters comparable to floods or earthquakes.
When the satellite tv for pc orbits over the affected space and acquires photographs, the pictures are handed to the onboard processer that may establish streets and generate a corresponding map.
Initially, this utility can be demonstrated over Southeast Asia, showcasing its potential to assist in disaster administration.
Maritime vessel detection
The maritime vessel detection utility, developed by CEiiA, utilises machine studying methods to robotically detect and classify vessels in specified areas, facilitating the monitoring of actions like unlawful fishing. This utility underscores the satellite tv for pc’s position in supporting maritime safety and environmental conservation efforts.
On-board picture compression and reconstruction
Developed by GEO-Okay, this utility is accountable for compressing photographs on board. By considerably lowering file sizes, this utility will increase the quantity and velocity of information downloads. After being downlinked to the bottom, the pictures are reconstructed utilizing a devoted decoder. The primary demonstrations of this expertise will happen over Europe, specializing in the detection of buildings.
To additional increase the satellite tv for pc’s capabilities, two further apps can be uploaded now that the satellite tv for pc is in orbit. These are:
Marine anomaly detection
Developed by IRT Saint Exupery Technical Analysis, this utility makes use of machine studying algorithm to identify anomalies in marine ecosystems – figuring out threats to the marine ecosystem comparable to oil spills, dangerous algae blooms and heavy sediment discharges in real-time.
Wildfire detection
The wildfire detection system, developed by Thales Alenia House, makes use of machine studying to offer vital real-time info to response groups. The software gives a classification report that helps firefighters find wildfires, monitor fireplace unfold and establish potential hazards.
Φsat-2 is a collaborative effort, with Open Cosmos because the prime contractor, supported by an industrial consortium together with CGI, Simera, Ubotica, CEiiA, GEO-Okay and KP-Labs.
