Tag Archives: satellite

Cyber security firm BITSCore successfully tested software algorithms on a sub-orbital rocket launch

BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia, 17-Nov-2021 — /EPR AEROSPACE NEWS/ — Australian cyber security company BITSCore has successfully tested two sets of software algorithms on a sub-orbital rocket launched in Queensland, Australia, just a week after testing them on the International Space Station.

The software will help providers to upgrade onboard satellite cyber security as they join the 5G network, and allow satellite customers to request “ride-share” tasking from satellite operators.

BITSCore CEO Dr David Hyland-Wood said the advent of 5G had brought home to the satellite industry the need for new cybersecurity measures to help guarantee their security.

“5G has been a wake-up call for satellite operators everywhere, as they come to understand the need for making sure their satellites, some of which may have been in space for several years, need cyber security assurance,” Dr Hyland-Wood said.

“In recent weeks we did some preliminary tests on the International Space station (ISS), and now we have tested in the harsh environment of a rocket launch,” he said.

“We put the software on a board as physical payload and tested our communications, using internet protocols to exercise our authorisation system.”

This latest SONAR mission (‘Snakes on a Rocket’, named after its Python programming language) test confirms the technology has reached Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) – system prototype demonstration in a relevant environment.

Also tested in the Black Sky Aerospace rocket was an algorithm which will allow satellite customers to alert operators of task requirements, and operators to pick up those tasks in a ride-share arrangement.

The tasking might include earth observation, communications, navigation, surveillance or monitoring the weather.

The launch took place on one of Black Sky’s outback Queensland space launch sites. The flight reached speeds almost twice the speed of sound and altitude of almost 30,000 feet in about 10 seconds.

Dr Hyland-Wood said that following the successful ISS and rocket launch tests, the next step was to test them in a military exercise environment, followed by continued testing on the ISS.

BITSCore Pty Ltd (bits-core.com) is an Australian cybersecurity company providing unique and powerful distributed computing solutions utilising patented and patent-pending technologies. These include satellite command and control, provably secure data storage, and advanced command authorisation services. BITSCore is headquartered in Queensland and serves governments and corporations in countries allied with Australia.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Web app that monitors olive groves by relying on European satellite tech won the Farming by Satellite Prize 2020

LONDON, 17-Dec-2020 — /EPR AEROSPACE NEWS/ — The winners of the Farming by Satellite Prize 2020 were announced at the virtual Farming by Satellite Prize 2020 Awards Ceremony on Monday 30th November. The Prize promotes the use of Galileo, the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), and Copernicus, the European Earth observation programme in European and African agriculture. The overall winner of €5,000 was team Graniot from Spain with their web application that uses European satellite technologies to help agronomists and farmers monitor their olive groves to reduce water waste and poor fertilisation practices.

Team Genuine received second prize for their web-based solution that identifies crop stress and the optimal tractor path for irrigation and fertilisation using Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo, components of the European Space Programme. Third prize went to team AI4OceanFarming, who use satellite data to identify ocean farming threats such as harmful algal blooms (HABs), ocean acidification (OA), and invasive species. The Special Africa Prize went to GeoM&E for their solution that looks to monitor coffee diseases using European satellite technologies. The winners beat stiff competition from 40 other young people. Judges selected the best teams to take their ideas forward to the ‘Deep Dive’ phase, and then selected eight grand finalists to pitch their solutions during the final ‘live’ judging round.

The Farming by Satellite Prize is an initiative of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). It is supported by CLAAS, a leading manufacturer of agricultural engineering equipment. It aims to increase the usage of Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus for European agriculture. The Prize also aims to grow awareness on the benefits the EU Space Programme provides toward fostering innovative and sustainable farming solutions. The objective of the Special Africa Prize is to encourage young Africans to develop satellite-based solutions that cater to the specific needs and resources of communities and lands in Africa.

Reviewing the winning entries this year, GSA judge Joaquín Reyes González said: “The innovation and wide variety of agriculture applications submitted by young innovators this year has been wonderful to see. It confirms the value of encouraging the next generation of farmers to explore the use of satellite technologies in agriculture to enable sustainable farming practices.”

Commenting on the environmental aspect of entries, Hans Dufourmont, judge for the European Environment Agency added: “The agricultural sector needs to continue developing sustainable food production activities and lessen their impact on the environment and climate. It’s great to see Galileo and Copernicus convincing young farmers to become tech savvy entrepreneurs and develop competitive yet sustainable agriculture.”

The last words go to the winners Pablo Romero Díaz and Manuel Castro Ruiz of Graniot, who stated: “We’re honoured to be chosen as winners for the Farming by Satellite Prize 2020. We will be putting the EUR 5,000 cash prize to good use developing our satellite crop monitoring web application further. The whole journey has been a great experience that would not have been possible without the support of UGREmprendedora and the Andalucia Agrotech DIH. We’ve learnt so much. We have been inspired by the feedback from the judges and have enjoyed seeing the entries from all the grand finalists during the awards ceremony.”

Contestants were tasked with creating a new sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture solution using Galileo, EGNOS and/or Copernicus. Solutions had to demonstrate their novel approach to the use of satellite services for farming, while ensuring accurate technical feasibility and a maximal impact on the farming industry.

On behalf of the judging panel, Marcel Fölsch from CLAAS said about the winning idea: “Graniot have consistently presented a high-quality solution throughout all stages of this year’s competition. It is great to see their focus on olive farming in southern Europe, allowing them to narrow in on specific customer needs and present a compelling remote sensing solution to their users. We’re pleased to award the top prize to a team clearly driving the adoption of sustainable agriculture practises in Europe.”

Participation was open to young farmers, academics, and professionals between the ages of 18 and 32. They could take part as individuals or as a team of up to four. For the Special Africa Prize, at least one applicant was required to be a citizen of or resident in an African country.

Full details on the competition are available at www.farmingbysatellite.eu.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Spaceflight and ISILaunch Team to Provide Global Spaceflight Services for Small Payloads

Spaceflight Services (Spaceflight) and Innovative Space Logistics BV (ISILaunch) announced today that they have teamed to create a global spaceflight services provider for small and secondary payloads.

Spaceflight and ISILaunch currently offer spaceflight services on a variety of orbital and suborbital vehicles for small and secondary payloads, with operations centered in the United States (US) and Europe respectively. Under this joint marketing agreement Spaceflight and ISILaunch will provide a global spaceflight service for the launch of small and secondary payloads by jointly marketing a combined set of products and services to prospective customers.

Spaceflight will be the lead organization for integrating prospective orbital and suborbital payloads flying on US launch vehicles and suborbital platforms. In addition, Spaceflight will be the primary interface for US companies that want to fly on non-US launch vehicles.

ISILaunch will be the lead organization for integrating prospective orbital and suborbital payloads flying on non-US launch vehicles and suborbital platforms, as well as be the primary interface for non-US customers that want to fly on US vehicles.

Jason Andrews, President and CEO of Spaceflight Services, said, “We are very pleased to team with ISILaunch Services and provide a global service offering. They are a demonstrated leader having contracted more than ten payloads in the past years and successfully launched four satellites in 2009.”

Abe Bonnema, Managing Director of ISILaunch Services, said, “By joining forces with SpaceFlight Spaceflight Services we have created the unique opportunity to connect the dots between the different customers and flight opportunities worldwide.”

Continued Andrews, “The commercial rideshare approach Spaceflight and ISILaunch offer provides truly revolutionary global space access at significant savings compared to purchasing a dedicated vehicle. For certain payload sizes this is an entirely new capability at a compelling price point.”

Spaceflight and ISILaunch are currently offering orbital flight opportunities to Low Earth Orbit starting in 2011 and flight opportunities to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and Low Lunar Orbit in 2014. For a full list of pricing for CubeSats, NanoSats, MicroSats and ESPA spacecraft, please visit Spaceflight Services at www.spaceflightservices.com or ISILaunch at www.isilaunch.com.

Via EPR Network
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