Tag: satellites

Cold war spy satellites and AI detect ancient underground aqueducts

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Holes at the top of this image are vertical shafts to underground aqueducts called qanats

Nazarij Buławka et al

Most of the ancient underground aqueducts that enabled humans to settle in the world’s hottest and driest regions have been lost over time. Now, archaeologists are rediscovering them by using artificial intelligence to analyse spy satellite images taken during the cold war.

The oldest known underground aqueducts that are found across much of North Africa and the Middle East are called qanats and are up to 3000 years old. They were designed to carry water from highland or mountain…

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September 16, 2024
Astronomers worried by launch of five new super-bright satellites

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Five satellites due to launch this week could be brighter than most stars, and astronomers fear the growth of such constellations could have a catastrophic impact

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September 10, 2024
Sentinel-2C satellite uses Earth observation to map climate issues

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Science Secretary Peter Kyle welcomed the launch of the Sentinel-2C satellite, which lifted off successfully this morning from Kourou in French Guiana.

The third satellite in the Copernicus Sentinel 2 mission, the Sentinel-2C satellite will generate valuable images and data to help respond to natural disasters, monitor pollution and inform action on climate change.

The Sentinels are a fleet of satellites that observe the planet and gather vast quantities of data, which feed into Copernicus, Europe’s Earth observation programme.

The UK participates fully in Copernicus through its membership in both the European Space Agency and EUMETSAT and its participation agreement with the EU.

Opportunities for UK scientists

UK industry and expertise contributed to the building of the Sentinel 2 satellites. This included Teledyne e2V, based in Chelmsford, which provided a metal oxide sensor (CMOS), part of the satellite’s multispectral instrument, which detects visible and near-infrared light jointly with Airbus.

UK scientists also provide expert advice on the development and implementation of the mission.

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, said: “As the world’s most comprehensive satellite Earth observation system, we are working to ensure that Copernicus benefits UK businesses and citizens, supports our space industry, and grows our economy.

“The Sentinel satellites, kitted out with UK-built equipment, will deliver immensely valuable data — from helping emergency services respond to major disasters to flagging gas leaks that endanger our planet.”

Now, the UK is once again a full participant in Copernicus, and there are numerous future opportunities for UK companies and scientists to be part of the industrial teams building the next generation of Sentinels.

What will the Sentinel-2C satellite capture?

It is important to ensure continuity of service into the future, as companies and public sector bodies are integrating the use of Copernicus data into everyday business decisions.

Sentinel-2C will enhance these capabilities and offer new biophysical data, such as leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content, and leaf water content, for use in monitoring the growth and health of crops and plants.

“Satellites improve life on Earth and protect our planet. The UK has played a key role in the development of the Copernicus programme to date, and we’re confident that our ongoing participation will generate even more industrial contracts and world-leading climate science,” explained Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency.

He concluded: “As we also prepare to take on the role of Chair of the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites next month, the UK is fully committed to driving forward the greater use of satellite data to benefit our citizens, as well as communities all over the world.”

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September 5, 2024
Moon GPS Is Coming | WIRED

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“I refer to LunaNet as the big umbrella,” Gramling says. “It is an architecture that defines the standards that are going to be used for interoperable communications and position, navigation, and timing services. There’s a large effort underway to define those standards and document those in a LunaNet interoperability specification.”

“It’s a very different paradigm than Earth, where the US has GPS, Europe has Galileo, or Russia has GLONASS,” she adds. “Because we’re at early stages, the idea is that we have to work together as three partners that are involved so far in LunaNet, and assert one system among the three of us.”

In other words, while NASA, ESA, and JAXA work away on their separate projects for now, they plan to ultimately merge those ideas into a single operating system. The detailed plans for ESA’s Moonlight Initiative are helpful for picturing how a lunar GNSS constellation might ultimately shake out.

As currently envisioned by ESA, Moonlight would consist of at least five satellites, including a large communication satellite and four smaller dedicated navigation satellites, placed in special orbits to optimize coverage at the lunar south pole. This initial setup would provide 15 reliable and predictable hours of PNT services in the coverage area every 24 hours, but Moonlight is also designed to be scalable, meaning more satellites could be added to enlarge the service area or to support more complicated missions.

“Moonlight will provide an extraordinary paradigm shift in the field of exploration,” says Javier Ventura-Traveset, who serves as Moonlight navigation manager at ESA. “Instead of each lunar mission requiring their own complex communication and navigation systems with a heavy dependence on Earth-based support, thanks to Moonlight, future missions will have access to broadband communication services and GNSS-like navigation systems directly from lunar orbit, all under a service contract with a commercial provider.”

It’s unclear the extent to which China, or any other nations, might collaborate on existing lunar navigation constellations systems, or if the moon will end up with multiple versions of GNSS, similar to Earth. Earlier this summer, a team of scientists at the China Academy of Space Technology outlined a phased plan for a GPS-style constellation in the journal Chinese Space Science and Technology.

“China has expressed interest in developing lunar navigation infrastructure at several international forums and has already launched this year the Queqiao-2 satellite, a lunar communication relay satellite,” notes Ventura-Traveset. “Similar to ESA, NASA, and JAXA, it is likely that China will also develop its own lunar navigation constellation. At some of these international forums, China has also indicated an interest in pursuing international interoperability.”

The emergence of these multiple competing concepts has led some to wonder if have entered a new “space race” to establish the first lunar version of GPS. But Gramling doesn’t see it that way. “I just know that we are putting our heads down and working with our partners because we have missions that we have to support in the relatively near term,” she says. “We’re just trying to focus on making sure that, among the partners that we’re working on LunaNet, that we are assured of what services we’re trying to provide and that we work together.”

Patla pointed out that last month, the International Astronomical Union, an organization that mediates a host of astronomical issues, voted on a resolution that emphasized cooperation in establishing a lunar timescale and other elements of lunar PNT systems.

“At least at the beginning stages, collaboration would be cheaper, and it would also benefit everyone,” Patla says. “But we don’t know how this will pan out.”

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September 4, 2024
The US Navy Is Going All In on Starlink

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“Having the ability to reach out to friends or family allows our sailors the opportunity to decompress for a few minutes, and that in turn allows them to be able to operate more efficiently,” Richard Haninger, the Ford’s deployed resiliency educator, said following the installation of the SEA2 system aboard the carrier in February 2023. “It’s not just about reaching back to friends and family, the ability to pay a bill online, take an online class, or even just check the score of the game […] all of this allows our Sailors the chance to access something that lowers their stress level, then return to work after a quick break more focused and able to complete the mission.”

But beyond morale-boosting applications, SEA2 also purportedly offers major benefits for “tactical and business applications” used by sailors on a daily basis, like, say, those used for air wing maintenance or for tracking pay and benefits. As White explained in a May release from the Navy on the initiative, most of these applications function at higher classification levels and are encrypted, but they’re still designed to operate on the commercial internet without jeopardizing information security.

“The fact that we’re not making use of that opportunity with modern technology to allow classified tactical applications to ride the commercial internet is where we are missing out, so we built [SEA2] to be able to do that in the future,” as White put it. “We’re close to demonstrating a couple of those applications, and I am fully confident it will be game changing.” (As of June, the Navy had not authorized the use of classified data with the system)

The Navy also expects to see broad “tangible warfighting impact” from the proliferation of SEA2 across the surface fleet, namely on “recruitment and retention, mental health, cloud services, and work stoppages due to slow and inaccessible websites,” as one service official told DefenseScoop in April.

The Navy isn’t the only service embracing Starlink to enable faster, persistent internet for deployed service members. The US Space Force signed a $70 million contract with Starlink parent company SpaceX in October 2023 to provide “a best effort and global subscription for various land, maritime, stationary and mobility platforms and users” using Starshield, the company’s name for its military products. The US Army currently remains reliant on Starlink, but the service has been casting about for fresh commercial satellite constellations to tap into for advanced command and control functions, according to Defense News. And SpaceX is actively building a network of “hundreds” of specialized Starshield spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office, Reuters reported earlier this year.

But Starlink is far from a perfect system, especially for potential military applications. According to a technical report obtained by The Debrief, Ukraine has claimed that Russia’s military intelligence agency has conducted “large-scale cyberattacks” to access data from the Starlink satellite constellations that have proven essential to the former’s military communications infrastructure since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. Indeed, significant hardware vulnerabilities have imperiled Starlink terminals at the hands of experienced hackers, as WIRED has previously documented.

More importantly, there’s the matter of Musk’s ownership of Starlink. The controversial SpaceX founder had previously refused to allow Ukraine to use the satellite constellation to launch a surprise attack against Russian forces in Kremlin-controlled Crimea in September 2022, prompting concerns among Pentagon decisionmakers that a private citizen with a questionable perception of geopolitics could drastically shape US military operations during a future conflict simply by switching off service branches’ Starlink access, according to an Associated Press report last year.

“Living in the world we live in, in which Elon runs this company and it is a private business under his control, we are living off his good graces,” a Pentagon official told The New Yorker in August 2023. “That sucks.”

Given these potential risks, it’s unlikely that Starlink will see deeper integration into the major tactical systems that govern the operation of a Navy warship at sea. But for the moment, it looks as though sailors will at least get a welcome reprieve from the stress and solitude of life on the high seas.

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September 3, 2024
Falling satellite will give clues to how objects burn up on re-entry

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An illustration of three of the four satellites that make up the Cluster mission to monitor Earth’s magnetic field

ESA – CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

A half-tonne satellite will be watched as it falls to Earth by scientists on a private jet, to understand more about how debris breaks up in our atmosphere.

The satellite is one of four in a constellation called Cluster run by the European Space Agency (ESA) to monitor how Earth’s magnetic field interacts with the sun’s solar wind. Nicknamed Rumba, Salsa, Samba and Tango because of the way they spin like dancers, the satellites were…

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August 30, 2024
Starlink tests show how to save radio astronomy from satellites

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A radio telescope at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia

J. Seymour/Green Bank Observatory

Radio telescopes observing the cosmos face growing challenges because of electromagnetic interference from thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. Now, experiments involving SpaceX’s Starlink satellites have shown how to virtually eliminate one form of this problem.

As these kind of satellites hurtle around the planet, they send so-called downlink signals to Earth to provide internet and communication services. When they pass through areas of the sky where radio telescopes are observing, the temporary blips from those strong signals can potentially impact hours of…

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August 23, 2024
UK Space Agency funds £2.5m for satellite data pilot projects

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Ten satellite data projects have been awarded £2.5 million as part of the UK Space Agency’s Unlocking Space for Business programme.

The pilot projects, which have been awarded grants of up to £400,000 each, will trial new solutions that use satellite data and services to support transport, logistics and financial services.

The trials will combine terrestrial data and technology (such as AI, quantum, machine learning, and geospatial data) with satellite data and services, providing deeper analysis to develop insights and present new solutions to UK customers.

DSIT Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, Chris Byrant, said: “We have a fast-growing space sector in the UK, but for too long, we have struggled to tap the huge potential of satellite data to drive positive change in the real world.

“These new projects seek to unlock this potential by combining data from space with cutting-edge technologies here on Earth.”

Reducing congestion with satellite data

One project with Sports City Management Company aims to enhance visitor travel to the Etihad Campus, which is home to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and the new Co-op Live arena, by reducing congestion and increasing the sustainability of fan travel.

The project will support the development of an AI-enabled travel demand solution. It will use satellite data from the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Open Access Hub and Sentinel satellites to predict patterns in the travel of music and sports fans at major events.

Coupled with machine learning, this provides transport operators and event planners with insight into congestion points, public transport requirements and crowd flow.

This will be tested in partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Earth observation for climate monitoring

Elsewhere, Octopus Investments has partnered with Treeconomy, a company that uses AI and remote sensing to measure the impact of nature restoration projects.

This project will use a variety of satellite-based Earth observation data sources, including Landsat and Sentinel-2, as well as AI and localised drone-based data, to support the monitoring and evaluation of nature projects and a suite of core environmental metrics to inform investment decisions.

This will increase confidence and improve the allocation of private finance towards high-quality, measurable and trusted nature and conservation efforts.

Driving benefits for businesses through satellite data

Unlocking Space for Business is delivered by the UK Space Agency to foster innovation by combining satellite data and services with other data sources and technology to drive benefits for businesses.

This could include new revenue growth, operational efficiencies and environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits.

In addition to the grants, Unlocking Space for Business has provided exploration workshops, networking events, learning and development sessions, and online resources to support companies in their understanding of what satellite data and services can mean for them.

They run alongside Contracts for Innovation, formerly the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which supports the development of new ideas and technologies.

“These new grants and contracts are just some of the ways the UK Space Agency is kickstarting growth and creating high-quality jobs to position the UK as a leading space economy,” explained Dr Craig Brown, Investment Director at the UK Space Agency.

“Unlocking Space for Business is set up to identify and help tackle barriers facing organisations that have not traditionally used satellite data or services or considered how space can benefit their bottom line.”

He added: “From AI-powered satellite-derived climate models to maritime incident avoidance and easier football fan travel, these projects will help accelerate innovation and investment and showcase the untapped potential of space data to support a range of UK industries.”

Unlocking investment for space

The satellite data grants form part of a wider ‘Unlocking Space’ programme from the UK Space Agency, which is focused on growing the UK sector by championing the benefits of space to stakeholders outside it, including investors, businesses, and public bodies.

This includes the new GovBridge project, which aims to demystify the government procurement process and help space companies refine their business offerings to better suit public sector requirements.

It also includes Unlocking Space for Investment, through which the UK Space Agency has invested £8m in the UK Innovation and Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) to create a space portfolio managed by Future Planet Capital.

The fund aims to address the critical funding gap early-stage space companies face at the pre-seed and seed stages and is part of strategic efforts to leverage private investment to grow the space sector, which is a key priority for the UK Space Agency.

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August 22, 2024
Phisat-2 satellite launch demonstrates AI’s potential in space

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The Phisat-2 satellite, built in the UK by Open Cosmos, launched successfully from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

The Phisat-2 satellite is demonstrating the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to support satellite Earth observation missions.

The UK Space Agency supported the development of the satellite through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth observation programme.

How AI can help overcome Earth observation challenges

A major challenge of Earth Observation is the volume of data being produced by the satellites, which is expected to grow exponentially.

The Phisat-2 satellite is designed to enhance the efficiency of satellite data processing by using onboard advanced AI algorithms.

This AI is designed to automatically detect and discard any images where clouds obscure the Earth. Since this process is done on board, only clear and usable images are sent back to Earth.

This, combined with deep image compression technologies to reduce data volume, is a vital step in Earth observation data management and will optimise downlink time.

Phisat-2 highlights the UK’s leading role in new innovations

The UK’s Space Agency’s involvement in the Phisat-2 satellite highlights the UK’s ambition to take a leading role in space innovation and AI development.

The AI industry contributes £3.7 billion each year to the UK economy and employs more than 50,000 people. The UK space sector employs a similar number (52,000) of people and has been the leading destination for private space investment in Europe since 2015, attracting 17% of the global total.

Harshbir Sangha, Missions and Capabilities Delivery Director at the UK Space Agency, said:‍ “Congratulations to Open Cosmos on the successful launch of the Phisat-2 satellite.

“This is a great example of how UK companies are driving innovation by exploiting new technologies like AI to increase the speed and efficiency of data processing – using the unique vantage point of space to deliver valuable insights into life on Earth.”

Sangha added: “The UK is a leading member of the European Space Agency, and we’re playing a major role in the development of future Earth observation missions in partnership with industry and academia.”

Deployment was successful

Approximately one hour after the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Open Cosmos received confirmation of the successful deployment of the Phisat-2 satellite.

Contact was made over Svalbard ground station in Norway and the flight team began downloading telemetry data from the satellite.

“The launch of Phisat-2 is a game changer for Earth observation. With its advanced AI applications and real-time data processing capabilities, Phisat-2 will provide invaluable insights for disaster response, maritime monitoring and environmental protection,” explained Jacob Bullard, Mission Manager in Operations at Open Cosmos.

He concluded: “This mission exemplifies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of space technology and delivering impactful solutions.”

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August 19, 2024
Space Hazards upgrades could help prevent orbital collisions

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New upgrades to the Monitor Space Hazards platform can help operators avoid orbital collisions by visualising manoeuvre options available to them.

In Earth’s increasingly important and crowded orbital environment, the ability to plan and undertake precise satellite manoeuvres is essential for preventing avoidable orbital collisions, which have the potential to harm both the satellite and the orbital environment.

The new support feature, Manoeuvre Trade Space Plots, allows satellite operators to identify the most effective collision avoidance strategies.

High volumes of satellites are at risk of colliding

In Earth’s increasingly important and crowded orbital environment, the ability to plan and undertake precise satellite manoeuvres is essential for preventing avoidable collisions – which have the potential to be harmful to both the satellite itself and the orbital environment.

The Monitor Space Hazards Platform tracks an average of 19,000 orbital collision risks every month affecting UK satellites.

How does the upgrade work to prevent orbital collisions?

If a potential conjunction event has been assessed as having a chance of an orbital collision higher than 0.001%, further calculations are done to determine the probability of this event occurring after a range of possible avoidance manoeuvres.

This varying likelihood is depicted in the form of Manoeuvre Trade Space Plots.

These plots indicate the conjunction probability for this event from the time of identification up to the Time of Closest Approach (TCA) between the two objects. Analysts regularly review new data as it comes in to inform the results.

Manoeuvre Trade Space Plots marks a significant milestone in NSpOC’s commitment to advancing space safety and operational efficiency in an increasingly congested orbital environment.

What are the benefits?

Manoeuvrable spacecraft have finite fuel reserves for undertaking critical movements to avoid oncoming debris and satellites.

This means flight dynamics teams must plan potential manoeuvres carefully to ensure enough fuel is available for future manoeuvres, for example, to avoid potentially catastrophic orbital collisions or to de-orbit at the end of the mission.

Additional information about the risk profile of each manoeuvre can help operators understand the risks and implications of their manoeuvre to make better use of their fuel and extend the lifespan of their satellite.

Operators can access further support by contacting the NSpOC orbital analysts.

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August 2, 2024