remote sensing

SpaceLink and U.S. Army to study use of relay constellation to deliver data to troops in the field
SpaceLink signed an agreement with the U.S. Army to explore ways to use the company’s data-relay constellation to deliver commercial satellite imagery directly to troops on the ground.

House armed services panel calls on DoD to buy commercial space technology and data
The House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on strategic forces on June 8 passed its proposals for the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Space Force to examine U.S. military needs for low-orbiting surveillance satellites
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has directed the Space Force to look broadly at military requirements for overhead surveillance that could be met by commercial constellations of satellites in low Earth orbit.

Report: U.S. military needs a better way to buy commercial satellite imagery
The U.S. military and intelligence community have a growing demand for satellite imagery but their acquisition methods prevent them from taking advantage of a vibrant commercial market, says a new CSIS report.

Analysis: China, Europe pulling ahead of U.S. in commercial satellite imaging
U.S. satellite imaging capabilities historically have been the best in the world. Today, they are not just losing ground but they are officially behind those of other nations.

Lawmaker warns remote sensing industry could be challenged by security and privacy issues
Rep. Don Beyer: There could be “years of rule making" on remote sensing.

Industry questions U.S. government support for commercial remote sensing
Remote sensing startups moving into the defense market would like to see DoD and other agencies develop plans to procure commercial capabilities.

Weather experts call for further dialogue to limit 5G impact on weather forecasting
The international weather community has not given up the fight to protect certain portions of the radio frequency spectrum from 5G interference.

DoD’s technology innovation office seeking bids from U.S. commercial remote sensing vendors
Technologies of interest include synthetic aperture radar, hyperspectral imaging, electro-optical imaging, infrared imaging and radio frequency sensing.

China carries out 2 orbital launches inside 3 hours
China launches six remote sensing satellites into orbit with two launches inside three hours from sites in north China.

Op-ed | Why Congress must enact commercial remote sensing reforms
Remote sensing is incredibly valuable for environmental, national security and commercial purposes. Unfortunately, it’s governed by an outdated law that’s in desperate need of updating.

Revised remote sensing regulatory rule nears release
The Commerce Department plans to soon release a new rule designed to streamline licensing of commercial remote sensing systems with what one official called a “fundamentally different” approach for licensing.

Descartes Labs forms imagery partnership with Airbus
Descartes Labs announced Aug. 15 a partnership with Airbus to feed high resolution global imagery into its geospatial data platform. The Sante Fe, New Mexico-based startup also completed beta testing of its cloud-based “data refinery,” and added weather data.

Op-ed | Satellite Data and Cheeseburgers
The U.S. government is evaluating how it can engage with a series of new commercial remote-sensing companies, but one of the biggest challenges in these partnerships is determining how widely the data can be shared after it is purchased from the government.

Commercial space technologies a key theme in Air Force intelligence and data strategy
There will be tens of thousands of commercial satellites mapping the globe in minutes. The Air Force wants to take advantage of that technology.

Commercial space bill clears Senate committee
The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill Aug. 1 that would streamline commercial launch and remote sensing regulations but also includes language conflicting with a House bill.

With six new satellites and more coming, Planet looks to disrupt high-res imagery market
Planet hopes to grab market share by offering “guaranteed collection” twice a day.

Artificial intelligence arms race accelerating in space
Geospatial data manipulation and analysis in real time is the holy grail in the military intelligence business.

Intelligence agencies rethinking how to buy data from new Earth imaging companies
Officials are working on a transition plan to transfer commercial imagery acquisition from NGA to NRO in fiscal year 2019.

Intelligence community, companies give out satellite imagery to motivate app developers
The remote sensing industry is trying to contribute to “global transparency,” said Walter Scott, chief technology officer of Maxar Technologies and founder of DigitalGlobe.