New Satellite Showcases AI's Power in Earth Observation

At 23:47 CEST, the crucial signal indicating that Sat-2 is now safely in orbit was received by the Svalbard ground station in Norway. Sat-2 descended from the launch vehicle at 21:50 CEST.

Sat-2 will demonstrate how AI technologies can be used to improve how we observe Earth from space and push the boundaries of Earth observation. The compact satellite is outfitted with a cutting-edge multispectral camera and a potent artificial intelligence computer that can process and analyze imagery while it is in orbit. Disaster response, maritime monitoring, environmental protection, and other areas will all benefit greatly from this.

The monitoring and comprehension of our planet has been significantly improved by a new era of artificial intelligence (AI). Satellite data can be processed quickly and accurately thanks to AI capabilities, transforming vast amounts of raw data into insights that can be used by scientists, businesses, and policymakers.

Cloud detection In contrast to conventional satellites, which downlink all captured images, even those that are obscured by clouds, Sat-2 processes these images directly in orbit, ensuring that only clear, usable images are sent back to Earth.

This application, developed by KP Labs, can also classify clouds and offer insights into cloud distribution. When it comes time to decide whether an image can be used, this gives users more leeway.

Generation of street maps The CGI-developed Sat2Map application turns satellite imagery into street maps. During natural disasters like floods or earthquakes, emergency response teams can use this capability to identify roads that are accessible.

The satellite's onboard processer uses the images it collects during its orbit over the affected area to identify streets and create a map of them.

This application's potential to assist in crisis management will initially be demonstrated over Southeast Asia.

Maritime vessel detection The CEiiA-developed maritime vessel detection application makes it easier to monitor activities like illegal fishing by automatically detecting and classifying vessels in specific regions. The satellite's support for maritime security and environmental preservation efforts is emphasized in this application.

Compression and reconstruction of on-board images This GEO-K application is in charge of compressing images on board. This application increases the volume and speed of data downloads by significantly reducing file sizes. A dedicated decoder is used to reconstruct the images after they have been downlinked to the ground. The detection of buildings will be the primary focus of the initial demonstrations of this technology throughout Europe.

Now that the satellite is in orbit, two more applications will be uploaded to further enhance the capabilities of the satellite. They are:

This application, which was developed by IRT Saint Exupery Technical Research, makes use of a machine learning algorithm to identify anomalies in marine ecosystems. It does this by identifying threats to the marine ecosystem in real time, such as oil spills, harmful algae blooms, and heavy sediment discharges.

Wildfire detection Thales Alenia Space's wildfire detection system makes use of machine learning to provide response teams with crucial real-time information. Firefighters can use the tool's classification report to locate wildfires, track their spread, and identify potential dangers.

Open Cosmos is the primary contractor for Sat-2, with support from an industrial consortium that includes CGI, Simera, Ubotica, CEiiA, GEO-K, and KP-Labs.

Source - https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Phsat-2/New_satellite_demonstrates_the_power_of_AI_for_Earth_observation