Tag: Earth observation
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Kreios Space Targets 2028 VLEO Demonstration With NanoAvionics Satellite Bus
Spanish aerospace startup Kreios Space has selected Kongsberg NanoAvionics to provide the satellite platform for its first very low Earth orbit (VLEO) demonstration mission, which is targeted for launch in 2028. The mission will serve as the company’s first in-orbit test of its air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) technology, designed to enable satellites to operate for…
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The Key Forces Shaping the Space Economy: Who Is Really Growing—and Who Is Just Telling a Story?
If launch costs have fallen to a fraction of their level 20 years ago, why has the global space economy not grown at the same pace? Over the past decade, reusable rockets have reduced the cost of reaching orbit by an order of magnitude, while the number of satellites launched has increased severalfold. Yet the…
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The New Space Race Will Be Won by Commercial Satellites
Over the past decade, commercial space has transformed satellites from “national-level missions” into industrial products that can be mass-produced and deployed on demand. As thousands of low-Earth orbit broadband, remote-sensing and navigation satellites form interconnected constellations, space has acquired the characteristics of infrastructure for the first time. It can continuously provide connectivity, observation and positioning…
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TerraByte AI expands its ‘Earth Search Engine’ with satellite imagery partnership and interactive features
An interactive map displays the sites of wildfires, earthquakes and severe weather events, with links to satellite imagery. (Credit: TerraByte) Two months after emerging from stealth mode, TerraByte AI is using artificial intelligence and a new partnership to upgrade its “Earth Search Engine.” The startup, which maintains operations in Seattle as well as San Francisco,…
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EO Satellites Beat Telecom in European Space Sales
Has Earth Observation Displaced Telecom as Europe’s Top Space Revenue Segment? Yes — and by a measurable margin. Earth observation satellite manufacturing sales surpassed telecommunications systems by 24% in 2025, according to Eurospace’s latest Facts and Figures report, presented July 7 in Milan. The shift marks the end of telecom’s historical dominance as the primary…
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NASA Awards Commercial Satellite Data Contracts to Eight New Providers
NASA has awarded contracts to eight commercial satellite data providers under its Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program, expanding the range of Earth observation data available to support scientific research and operational applications. The awards were issued under the CSDA On-Ramp 2 Multiple Award contract, a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreement with a cumulative ceiling value…
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STARPATH GLOBAL Officially Launches “Octa” Hyperspectral Constellation Program, Accelerating the Global Expansion of China’s Commercial Space “Navigator”
In 2026, China’s commercial space sector marked a milestone in its international expansion. Recently, STARPATH GLOBAL, a leading platform specializing in the internationalization of commercial space services, officially unveiled its long-planned “Octa” hyperspectral Earth observation constellation at an internal R&D transformation meeting. The conceptual origin of the “Octa” constellation draws inspiration from the Tower of…
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Unseenlabs Orders Two More RF Surveillance Cubesats From GomSpace
French radio frequency (RF) detection specialist Unseenlabs has awarded GomSpace a €2.2 million (US$2.5 million) contract to build two additional cubesats, further expanding its space-based maritime surveillance constellation. The satellites will be manufactured using GomSpace’s 8U cubesat platform and are scheduled for delivery in 2027. Constellation Expansion Continues The latest order increases the total number…
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How does satellite data improve utility maintenance planning?
Satellite data significantly improves utility maintenance planning by providing timely, large-scale insights into infrastructure conditions, environmental risks, and operational priorities. By enabling utilities to monitor extensive asset networks more efficiently, Earth observation technologies support proactive maintenance strategies that help reduce costs, improve reliability, and enhance operational resilience. Traditional maintenance planning often relies on scheduled inspections,…
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What urban infrastructure can be mapped using Earth observation?
Earth observation technologies can map and monitor a wide range of urban infrastructure assets, providing valuable information for city governments, planners, utility operators, transportation agencies, developers, and infrastructure managers. Satellite imagery offers a scalable and cost-effective method for maintaining visibility across large urban areas while supporting planning, maintenance, and investment decisions. Buildings are among the…