"We are excited to share that FeatherEdge GEN-2 is fully operational onboard LizzieSat-3," said Carol Craig, CEO of Sidus Space. "What sets this technology apart is its broad market applicability. While designed for space, FeatherEdge GEN-2 has the potential to drive revenue across multiple domains-including defense, intelligence, maritime, aviation, and terrestrial remote sensing-by enabling near real-time data processing at the edge."

In addition to validating the hardware's capabilities, Sidus has opened LizzieSat-3 to third-party algorithm integration, allowing customers to deploy proprietary AI solutions without the need for dedicated satellite infrastructure. This approach enables rapid technology testing and deployment for government and commercial clients alike.

As LizzieSat-3 progresses through its commissioning phase, Sidus Space aims to establish the platform as a versatile, revenue-generating asset, capable of supporting both government and commercial missions. The FeatherEdge GEN-2 is set to generate new revenue streams through hardware sales, data processing services, and technology integration, reinforcing the company's position as a key player in the rapidly expanding space economy.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST London, UK (SPX) May 22, 2025 - CloudCatcher, a citizen science program developed by STFC RAL Space, is inviting the public to help improve the accuracy of cloud detection in satellite imagery. The project plays a vital role in enhancing how scientists measure Earth's surface temperatures from space by verifying when clouds obstruct the satellite's view.

This latest version of CloudCatcher builds on the success of a 2020 prototype, which engaged over 1,600 volunteers. That earlier project proved that non-experts could reliably identify clouds, with results published in the journal Weather. The updated platform includes enhanced tools to detect thin clouds and to confirm the clarity of images previously marked as cloud-free, using false-colour imaging.

Clouds significantly affect satellite temperature readings by obscuring the Earth's surface. To address this, satellites apply a 'cloud mask' to identify which pixels are cloud-covered. However, these masks are not flawless. CloudCatcher aims to highlight inaccuracies, helping researchers determine where these automated systems fall short.

Accessible via the Zooniverse platform, CloudCatcher presents users with satellite images from the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR), onboard the European Space Agency's Sentinel-3 satellites. Volunteers classify small image sections based on cloud presence. Designed for ease of use, the tool requires no technical expertise and is open to families, schools, and individuals alike.

The collected data will support the refinement of cloud masks used by SLSTR, aiding global efforts in climate monitoring and weather forecasting. Although more testing is needed to ensure minimal cloud interference, the contributions of CloudCatcher volunteers mark an important first step toward more reliable Earth observation from orbit.

Research Report:CloudCatcher: citizen science can be used to help to crowd source a satellite cloud validation dataset

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Paris (AFP) May 21, 2025 - Microsoft has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that beats current forecasting methods in tracking air quality, weather patterns, and climate-addled tropical storms, according to findings published Wednesday.

Dubbed Aurora, the new system -- which has not been commercialised -- generated 10-day weather forecasts and predicted hurricane trajectories more accurately and faster than traditional forecasting, and at lower costs, researchers reported in the journal Nature.

"For the first time, an AI system can outperform all operational centres for hurricane forecasting," said senior author Paris Perdikaris, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

Trained only on historical data, Aurora was able to correctly forecast all hurricanes in 2023 more accurately than operational forecasting centres, such as the US National Hurricane Center.

Traditional weather predicting models are designed on first physical principles -- such as conservation of mass, momentum and energy -- and require massive computer power.

The computational costs of Aurora were several hundred times lower, the study said.

The experimental results follow on the heels of the Pangu-Weather AI model developed and unveiled by Chinese tech giant Huawei in 2023, and could herald a paradigm shift in how the world's major weather agencies forecast weather and potentially deadly extreme events exacerbated by global warming.

- 'Holy grail' -

"I believe that we're at the beginning of a transformation age in air system science," Perdikaris said in a video presentation distributed by Nature.

"In the next five to 10 years the holy grail is how to build systems that can directly work with observations from remote sensing sources like satellites and weather stations to generate forecasts at high resolution anywhere we like."

According to its designers, Aurora is the first AI model to consistently outperform seven forecasting centres in predicting the five-day trajectory of devastating cyclones.

In its simulation, for example, Aurora correctly forecast four days in advance where and when Doksuri -- the most costly typhoon ever recorded in the Pacific -- would hit the Philippines.

Official forecasts at the time, in 2023, had it heading north of Taiwan.

Microsoft's AI model also outperformed the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model in 92 percent of cases for 10-day global forecasts, on a scale of approximately 10 square kilometres (3.86 square miles).

The ECMWF, which provides forecasts for 35 European countries, is considered the global benchmark for weather accuracy.

In December, Google announced that its GenCast model had surpassed the European centre's accuracy in more than 97 percent of the 1,320 climate disasters recorded in 2019.

These promising performances -- all experimental and based on observed events -- are being closely scrutinised by weather agencies.

Several, including Meteo-France, are developing their own AI learning models alongside traditional digital models.

"This is something we have taken very seriously," Florence Rabier, Director General of the ECMWF, told AFP.

Their first "learning model", made available to member states in February, is "about 1,000 times less expensive in terms of computing time than the traditional physical model", she added.

While operating as a lower resolution (30 sq km) than Aurora, the ECMWF model is already operational.

bl/mh/phz

MICROSOFT

GOOGLE

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Canberra, Australia (SPX) May 15, 2025 - You have probably used space at least 20 times today. Satellites let you buy a coffee with your phone, book a rideshare, navigate your way to meet someone, and check the weather.

Satellites are also essential for monitoring floods, cyclones and bushfires, and supporting the people they affect. Farmers depend on satellite data, too, as does everyone trying to understand and tackle climate change, not to mention our military.

Yet Australia's access to space services depends almost entirely on satellites owned and run by foreign governments and companies. In an increasingly uncertain world, having our own sovereign space technology is becoming even more important for security.

But what exactly do we need to secure? And how can space help us do it? My colleagues and I at the Australian Centre for Space Governance have thought through these questions and presented them in a policy paper series - and we have some recommendations for the government.

Space services are essential

However, Australia is entirely dependent on foreign partners for space-based services such as communications and Earth observation.

Another crucial kind of satellite-powered service is "position, navigation and timing" - things like GPS, which is owned and operated by the US government. Even a temporary loss of these services could pose significant risks to Australia's telecommunications and energy systems, as well as disaster response.

According to Australia's 2024 National Defence Strategy, space capabilities are "equally as important as the maritime, land and air domains". But we are in many respects simply users of space infrastructure that belongs to partner countries for our military needs. There are opportunities to increase our role in these partnerships if we place more emphasis on how Australia can be a contributor.

An uncertain world

If any of those countries have to prioritise their own national needs in a natural disaster - such as the Sea of Japan earthquake in January last year - we might lose access. Even temporary loss of service can be disruptive, such as the temporary outage in 2023 of a UK satellite that impacted farmers in Australia and New Zealand.

The same might happen if any of those countries stopped providing data for political or national security reasons.

These risks are only increasing as our dependency on satellite services grows, and our relationship with the United States may become less certain.

What do we want from space?

Greater cooperation on new space technologies could help our shared interests with our neighbours. Obvious areas include regional security, climate response, supporting agriculture, and internet connectivity needs.

One obstacle, as we discovered when we ran a national public opinion survey last year, is that Australia doesn't have a clear vision of what it wants from space.

In government, too, there is little shared understanding of how satellites and related infrastructure feed in to our national priorities and needs.

At present, thinking about space is usually the domain of specialists in government. But a better option would be "mainstreaming" space - making it part of the everyday, business-as-usual thinking of policymakers across government.

Sovereign satellites

In 2023, the government scrapped a billion-dollar project including four Earth-observation satellites, citing budget constraints. In 2024, a planned military-grade satellite communications system worth $7 billion was also cancelled due to lack of cash.

But in 2025, it's a new term of government. New minister for industry and science Tim Ayres may revisit these decisions. It certainly aligns with his support for a "Future Made in Australia".

This time around, the space industry and researchers will need to do a better job at communicating why satellites matter so much to our national well-being and security.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 19, 2025 - Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has successfully launched its third mission for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), deploying the QPS-SAR-10 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite into a 575km low Earth orbit. The mission, named 'The Sea God Sees,' lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 8:17 p.m. NZT on May 17, 2025. This marks the second mission in a multi-launch agreement to deploy eight iQPS satellites through 2026, reinforcing Rocket Lab's role as a leading provider of reliable small satellite launch services.

With four additional iQPS missions planned for 2025 and two more in 2026, Rocket Lab is set to play a crucial role in expanding iQPS' satellite constellation. The next mission under this contract is scheduled to launch as early as June 2025, further demonstrating Rocket Lab's commitment to frequent, reliable, and precise orbital deployments.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, stated, "Another fantastic launch by the Electron team to flawlessly deliver another iQPS mission to orbit. Constellation deployment requires a reliable rocket with pinpoint orbital deployment accuracy that allows for the seamless integration of the latest spacecraft to the constellation - and that's exactly the service Electron continues to provide as the global leading launcher for small satellite missions. With another mission lined up with iQPS in just a few short weeks, we're looking forward to supporting their constellation with multiple missions this year and next."

iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, commented, "We are truly delighted to have successfully launched our 10th satellite, 'WADATSUMI-I,' into orbit just two months after the launch of our QPS-SAR-9 'SUSANOO-I.' This achievement is a remarkable milestone to the outstanding technical capabilities of our development team, and we are deeply grateful to Rocket Lab team for enabling such a precise and agile launch. With more Electron launches ahead, we're more committed than ever to accelerating the buildout of our satellite constellation, and we look forward to continuing this powerful partnership."

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 12, 2025 - A research team from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz and Heidelberg University has achieved a significant breakthrough, using the German environmental satellite EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program) to simultaneously detect carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in emission plumes from power plants for the first time. This advancement, enabled by the satellite's high spatial resolution of just 30 meters, marks a new era in precision satellite-based emissions monitoring.

The newly developed approach allows scientists to directly measure CO2 and NO2 over individual power plants, providing critical data for understanding atmospheric processes and industrial emissions. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, demonstrate that EnMAP can effectively track emissions over distances of several tens of kilometers, a feat previously considered unfeasible for a satellite not explicitly designed for atmospheric measurements.

Power plants release CO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as part of their regular operations, both of which significantly contribute to air pollution and climate change. CO2, a primary greenhouse gas, and NOx, a precursor to ground-level ozone, have traditionally been challenging to monitor at high spatial resolutions from space.

Most satellite instruments lack the fine-scale detail required to distinguish individual emission sources against the background atmospheric concentrations. EnMAP, however, overcomes these challenges with its unique capability to capture detailed 30 x 30 meter resolution imagery.

"Using the EnMAP data, we were able to determine the distribution of CO2 and NO2 in emission plumes from individual power plants - for example, from facilities in Saudi Arabia and the South African Highveld region, one of the world's largest emission hotspots," said Christian Borger, the study's first author and former postdoctoral researcher in the Satellite Remote Sensing Group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. Borger now conducts research at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) in Bonn.

This approach also allows for the calculation of NOx/CO2 ratios, which provide insights into the efficiency and operating conditions of power plants. Such ratios are important for understanding the technical performance of power plants and could eventually be used to estimate CO2 emissions based solely on NO2 data, reducing the need for direct CO2 measurements in some cases.

The research demonstrates that high-resolution satellites like EnMAP can play a critical role in global emissions monitoring, complementing broader initiatives such as the European CO2M satellite program. As the need for precise, independent emissions data grows, this approach may form a cornerstone of future climate monitoring efforts.

Research Report:High-resolution observations of NO2 and CO2 emission plumes from EnMAP satellite measurements

CONTACT: susanne.benner@mpic.de christian.borger@mpic.de ]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 07, 2025 - Reveal Technology and Maxar have announced a strategic partnership to integrate Maxar's high-resolution satellite imagery and 3D data directly into the Farsight platform, enhancing real-time situational awareness for defense users operating at the tactical edge.

This collaboration aims to provide defense personnel with enhanced operational decision-making capabilities by incorporating Maxar's precise basemaps and 3D data into the scalable, mobile-first Farsight platform. This integration allows for accurate terrain visualization, mission rehearsal, and dynamic coordinate extraction in scenarios where conventional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) is limited or unavailable.

Farsight is designed for decentralized, communication-limited environments, offering rapid intelligence processing by converting ISR feeds into 2D and 3D models within seconds. Users benefit from a suite of in-app measurement, analytics, and autonomy tools, along with the ability to import and export map tiles and data layers to platforms like ATAK. The integration of Maxar data as a basemap layer further enhances this capability, improving mission planning accuracy across diverse operational contexts.

Dave Caudle, Vice President of Security and Defense at Reveal, noted, "Warfighters consistently praise the analytics and intuitive design of the Farsight product. Now with Maxar, they can experience the same ease of use and mission-focused functionality, enhanced with Maxar's high-resolution imagery, delivered directly to the point of need: the end-user device in the hands of the tactical warfighter."

This partnership underscores both companies' commitment to equipping defense and security professionals with state-of-the-art situational awareness tools, reinforcing their positions as leaders in tactical intelligence and automation software.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 02, 2025 - Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have confirmed that elevated spring temperatures in 2023 and 2024 caused earlier leaf emergence across Japan. Using satellite data from JAXA's GCOM-C satellite, the team documented how climate change is advancing the start of season (SOS) across multiple regions.

Their analysis found that in 2023, leaf flush began 3 to 7 days earlier than the 2018-2024 average in the Kanto and Chubu regions. In 2024, similar advances occurred in the Hokuriku, Tohoku, and Hokkaido regions, with the Shirakami Mountains area recording SOS nearly 9 days earlier than usual. The study identified spring air temperature (February to April) as a strong driver, showing that each 1 K rise corresponds to an average 4.4-day advancement in leaf flush timing.

Extrapolating these findings to future climate projections, researchers estimate that SOS could occur around 7 days earlier under the low-emissions RCP 2.6 scenario, and up to 21 days earlier under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 scenario. These shifts have potential consequences for biodiversity, ecological synchrony, and forest health.

The study underscores the ecological ramifications of continued global warming and the importance of long-term satellite and field monitoring to understand and respond to such changes.

Research Report:Impact of high temperature in 2023 and 2024 on spring leaf flush phenology in Japan derived by GCOM-C satellite

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 30, 2025 - Near Space Labs has secured $20 million in Series B financing to accelerate deployment of its stratospheric imaging capabilities across the continental U.S. Led by Bold Capital Partners and joined by USAA, Climate Capital, Gaingels, River Park Ventures, and existing backers like Crosslink Capital and Draper Associates, the round will enable Near Space Labs to scale its fleet and data delivery.

The company operates a stratospheric robotics platform that delivers ultra-high-resolution aerial imagery with unprecedented speed and frequency. Its flagship Swift robots can image vast urban regions such as New York City or Los Angeles within hours, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional aerial surveys and drones.

"Near Space Labs has solved a fundamental challenge in geospatial intelligence: delivering high-resolution imagery with the frequency, scale, and economics that truly unlock commercial value," said Will Borthwick, Principal at Bold Capital. "Their industry-first, nationwide stratospheric robotics platform is uniquely positioned to do for aerial imagery what SpaceX did for satellite launches."

Driven by AI-enabled decision-making, sectors like insurance are demanding more frequent and accurate data. This investment allows Near Space Labs to expand coverage to 80 percent of the U.S. population twice annually, delivering 7cm resolution imagery critical for underwriting, claims, and asset monitoring.

USAA, one of the Series B participants, sees strategic benefit in Near Space Labs' services. "We believe that high-resolution stratospheric imaging will transform how the insurance industry underwrites policies and fulfills claims," said Nathan McKinley, vice president at USAA. "Near Space Labs provides data that drives higher quality, faster turnaround, and lower costs."

Unlike satellites or planes, Near Space Labs' Swift robots operate at altitudes above commercial aircraft but below satellites, enabling rapid deployment and consistent data acquisition over large areas. The firm highlights that replicating a single Swift mission would otherwise require hundreds of thousands of drone flights.

"Earth observation users have been forced to choose between satellite imagery lacking detail and traditional aerial surveys that are costly and infrequent," said Near Space Labs CEO Rema Matevosyan. "Our unique stratospheric approach eliminates this dilemma, combining satellite-like coverage with market-leading resolution."

In 2025, the company plans to roll out custom coverage options for customers subscribed to its national imaging program. These tailored solutions aim to serve specific intelligence needs across industries such as property insurance, climate monitoring, and infrastructure management.

Near Space Labs invites interested partners to explore its scalable imaging services as it advances toward its mission of democratizing geospatial intelligence for the AI era.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Sao Paulo (AFP) April 29, 2025 - Subtropical Sao Paulo may enjoy warm temperatures year-round nowadays, but the Brazilian mega-city once had weather that resembled London.

Such was Sao Paulo's reputation for "garoa" -- a fine evening drizzle caused by damp air from the nearby coast colliding with the city's cool climes -- that famous singer Caetana Veloso waxed lyrical about it in his 1978 hit "Sampa," titled for the city's nickname.

These days, however, light sprinklings are rare and deadly storms are increasingly the norm in the city of 12 million people.

Locals Cristiane Andrade and Raquel Nascimento have felt the sudden brunt of Sao Paulo's changing weather patterns, which scientists link to climate change.

In March, they popped out of work by car for a snack when a sudden storm felled a tree that came crashing down on their windshield.

The pair, who were rescued by firefighters, escaped death by a matter of inches.

"It was a moment of terrible panic, a gusting wind whipped up in a few seconds," Andrade, a 43-year-old hospital worker, told AFP.

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events is changing the image of an economic hub that prides itself on stability and efficiency compared to vibey but violence-plagued Rio de Janeiro.

- Thousand-kilometer tailbacks -

In the last two decades the city has weathered 10 storms classified "very dangerous" by the National Institute of Meteorology -- more than double than in the previous 20 years.

On one rainy day in March, the traffic jams in Sao Paulo amounted to 1,174 kilometers (729 miles) of blocked roadways.

Falling trees are a particular hazard: a staggering 2,000 have been toppled by storms so far this year, according to Sao Paulo city officials.

Scientists blame a mix of global warming and hyper-urbanization for driving up temperatures, which, combined with high humidity in the region, create the perfect storm.

Average summer daytime temperatures have risen by four degrees Celsius in Sao Paulo in the past 40 years, to 24.2 degrees Celsius (to 75.6 degrees Fahrenheit from 68.4F), according to weather officials.

"Today you have to think of Sao Paulo almost as a tropical city," said Cesar Soares, meteorologist for the Climatempo TV network.

- Living with risk -

The changes are taking a toll on the city that serves as Brazil's economic engine.

Nearly half of companies surveyed by the chamber of commerce of Sao Paulo state said their profits were hit by extreme weather last year.

Floods and power cuts damaged merchandise and caused downtime while the heat disrupted supply chains.

The worst drought since records began being kept in Brazil, which experts have also linked to climate change, gave way to storms in October that knocked out power to nearly 1.5 million homes in Sao Paulo.

Authorities are trying to adapt to the upheaval.

Residents have received 14 storm alerts since December from the state Civil Defense agency. The text message warning system will eventually be extended to all Brazilians.

Efforts are also underway to eradicate so-called "heat islands" -- densely populated areas where temperatures are often several degrees above average.

The city's green coverage -- the area occupied by trees, parks, rooftop gardens, street greenery -- has risen from 15 percent to 26 percent in the past three years.

And the city's drainage system is being revamped to fight flooding.

But Sao Paulo's poorest districts are still fighting a rising tide of calamity.

In Jardim Pantanal, a low-income neighborhood on the banks of the Tiete River, residents had to use water drums as rafts to evacuate children during floods in February.

"The government proposed relocating families, but most of us don't want to leave," Pedro Guedes, a 66-year-old community leader said.

Lieutenant Maxwell de Souza, a Civil Defense spokesperson, acknowledged that it was "not feasible to evacuate everyone every time a neighborhood floods."

"That's why we're trying to create a culture of coexistence with risk: since we can't control climate change, we need resilient communities," he said.

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:08:51 AEST Subscribe to our daily selection of space, military, environment and energy newsletters responseText http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=0016gbbKsaiGSpQFojVO8ZoHw%3D%3D