BlackSky secures HEO contract for Space Domain Awareness and Non-Earth Imaging

BlackSky secures HEO contract for Space Domain Awareness and Non-Earth Imaging
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 20, 2024

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has been awarded a seven-figure contract by HEO to advance its automated low-latency capabilities for non-Earth imaging (NEI) services, catering to defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors. The agreement will integrate BlackSky's satellite constellation into HEO's NEI sensor network. After successfully completing an initial proof of concept, the partnership is entering a second phase that aims to automate the entire tasking-to-delivery process.

As part of the collaboration, BlackSky will provide high-resolution imagery from its mid-inclination orbit satellites to HEO. These capabilities will enhance NEI data collection, particularly over the middle latitudes of Earth. BlackSky's NEI function will allow the company to capitalize on previously unused satellite capacity, such as satellites passing over oceans or the dark side of the Earth.

"Leveraging the power of real-time dynamic monitoring in the space domain unlocks additional value from BlackSky's high-resolution constellation," said Brian O'Toole, CEO of BlackSky. "Space situational awareness is critically important for our customers as the space domain continues to become a highly contested operational environment. Automatically tasking and receiving NEI products reflects yet another pioneering innovation that gives customers reliable and actionable space-based intelligence about spacecraft or on-orbit objects of interest at mission speed."

Dr. Will Crowe, Co-Founder and CEO of HEO, commented on the partnership, stating, "HEO is driving innovation in space by delivering non-Earth imaging solutions at scale, giving our customers in-orbit insights when timing is crucial. Adding BlackSky's high-resolution constellation to HEO's sensor network through this partnership will unlock even more applications of NEI data across industries."

Through HEO's automated tasking and delivery platform, HEO Inspect, customers can request NEI products. The system automatically identifies imaging opportunities and tasks BlackSky's mission scheduling system via API. Once the NEI data is collected, it will be transferred to HEO Inspect for further analysis. Object detection algorithms will provide detailed analytics, including satellite attitude, subsystem identification, and pattern-of-life information.