Earth observation
From selling data to selling answers, EO market faces transformation
Earth-observation startups are investing in data analytics and machine learning to transform raw satellite data into marketable insights they say have the potential to be every bit as indispensable to investors and business leaders as the up-to-the-second analytics they get from the likes of a $20,000-a-year Bloomberg terminal subscription.
Pentagon’s DIUx unit looks for persistent imagery, small rockets and broadband networks
The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), a group charged with finding cutting-edge technologies to solve national security problems, is looking for space companies to provide persistent Earth observation, responsive launch capabilities and something like an Internet in space.
Ursa uses radar imagery to reveal extent of Texas flooding
Ursa Space Systems, a geospatial data and analytics company, is using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery to monitor flooding along the Texas Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Harvey.
NGA director hopes to foster next “unicorn” by inviting innovators to feed at agency’s data trough
“Our idea is to invest the data into the U.S. economy, U.S. companies, universities and inventors,” NGA Director Robert Cardillo said Aug. 7 at the annual Conference on Small Satellites. “We give data and get back data and technology in return.”
Planet wins second NGA satellite-imagery contract
Planet has won a second contract to provide satellite imagery to the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), taking a sole-source award while UrtheCast, Orbital Insight and Sky Hawk Drone Services offered noncompetitive capability statements.
Op-ed | The geospatial revolution: What’s a government to do?
We are witnessing a geospatial revolution, driven by fundamental advances in increasingly persistent data collection and analysis. How should governments respond and participate?
Satellogic raises $27 million round for hyperspectral imaging constellation
Satellogic, a company developing a constellation of satellites designed to provide high-resolution and hyperspectral imagery, has raised $27 million to continue that effort in a round led by a Chinese company.
Planetary Resources sets aside Earth observation system
A year after announcing plans to develop a constellation of Earth observation satellites, Planetary Resources has set that effort aside to focus on its core mission of asteroid prospecting.
Is the Earth-observation industry consolidating, or just evolving?
Do three events constitute a trend? For many in the Earth-observation industry, the answer seems to be yes.
Earth-i plans constellation to provide high-definition video imagery in color
Earth-i’s new constellation will allow customers to task the onboard imager to gather still or video imagery of targets of interest, capturing videos of 25 to 30 frames per second.
Annual GEOINT meeting begins amidst explosion of capabilities
Leaders from across the government, military, academic and commercial sectors will meet for the GEOINT Symposium June 4-7, at a time when geospatial capabilities are expanding and evolving as never before.
Orbital Insight raises $50 million to grow alongside Earth-observation industry
Geospatial analytics firms Orbital Insight plans to expand its workforce and create new data products with a $50 million investment the Silicon Valley startup raised in Series C round announced May 2.
Space plays key role in $9 trillion data market
In a world economy worth an estimated $90 trillion, the market for information that could be obtained from physical observations will be worth at least $9 trillion, said Lars Dyrud, OmniEarth chief executive.
Decommissioned Earth science satellite to remain in orbit for decades
A NASA Earth science satellite whose mission is ending this week will remain in orbit through the middle of the century, far longer than required by orbital debris mitigation guidelines.
Is imagery the ‘killer app’ for smallsats?
Peter Wegner, Spaceflight Industries chief technology officer, is convinced the killer app for small satellites is imagery. Joe Rothenberg, the former engineering director for Terra Bella, the Earth-imaging company purchased by Google, isn't so sure.
Report: Google parent company looking to unload Terra Bella
Google acquired what was then known as Skybox Imaging in 2014 for an estimated $500 million but now appears interested in selling the company as it seeks to cut costs.
