Spiral Blue partners with
SatRevolution for in orbit demonstration mission
Spiral Blue has signed an agreement
with Polish satellite manufacturer SatRevolution to
launch and test our first prototype Space Edge Zero
(SEZ) computer in orbit. Our SEZ computer will be hosted
by SatRevolution's SW1FT satellite, set for launch on a
SpaceX Falcon 9 no earlier than December 2020. Following
in orbit qualification, the SEZ will be tested
throughout 2021.
This mission will be more than just
a technical demonstrator to prove that SEZ works in
space. SatRevolution's SW1FT will also be carrying an
optical payload capable of capturing RGB imagery at 6m
resolution. This imagery will be passed to SEZ, allowing
SEZ to take in and process earth observation imagery in
real time. We intend to test a variety of algorithms on
these images, such as our Vessel Detect AI. This gives
us the opportunity to do a full end-to-end test of Space
Edge computing from both a technological and commercial
perspective - taking images, processing them, and
delivering the processed data.
Early development of Space Edge
Zero began in August 2019 when Spiral Blue was awarded
the Minimum Viable Product Grant from the NSW
Government. This grant project saw testing of the
various components that will make up Space Edge Zero,
including running and testing representative algorithms
on representative hardware, thermal testing in vacuum,
and radiation testing. Since completing this grant
project, Spiral Blue has been focused on building a
fully integrated prototype of SEZ. We anticipate
completing an initial engineering model in the coming
weeks.
Satellite images are used around
the world to drive decision making around areas and
objects of interest. Industries that use satellite
images include defence, agriculture, utilities, and
financial services. However, said images must usually be
processed heavily to deliver the necessary insights
desired by the end customer. This may take the form of a
report, or a set of analytics. Space Edge computing
allows this processing to happen on the satellite,
rather than on the ground. Any satellite equipped with
Space Edge can deliver only what the client needs,
rather than large quantities of raw data. This provides
benefits in flexibility, lead time, and affordability.
Spiral Blue is developing earth observation services
that can leverage Space Edge. We invite other earth
observation services companies to join us in using the
Space Edge platform.
SatRevolution is a new space
company based in Wroclaw, Poland, offering complete
nanosatellite systems and solutions. Founded in 2016
with the idea to build and launch first
Earth-observation constellation in Poland, SatRevolution
has recently been co-funded by European Regional
Development Fund for the first stage of the
constellation. The company specializes in CubeSat and
Microsatellite platforms and services with
Earth-observation capabilities, with two satellites
already in orbit and a number of dedicated and shared
platforms on track for launch in 2020.
|