Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Sen Selects NanoAvionics to Build Video Nano-Satellites

Sen, a British space company working to nano-satellites built for launch in and climate change. NanoAvionics plans
provide real-time Ultra-High Definition 2022. Sen is developing an “EarthTV” to build the 16U nano-satellite buses
(UHD) video of Earth, has signed a multi- constellation of nano-satellites to and integrate Sen’s payload at their
million euro contract with NanoAvionics stream real-time videos from space. The European manufacturing and research
to build the first five nano-satellites of company plans that the service, which facility in Vilnius, Lithuania. Sen said each
its constellation. The companies plan to will include a freely accessible app for satellite will be equipped with several UHD
launch the first nano-satellite, EarthTV-1, individuals, will be used for monitoring cameras, providing multiple perspectives
by mid-2021, with the remaining four environmental events, natural disasters of Earth, from wide angle imagery down to
1.5M resolution. “Our planet is constantly
changing and Sen’s satellites will provide
a new and persistent way of seeing
events unfolding, empowering humanity
to witness the evolution of our planet
in a unique way. We hope to increase
awareness of environmental events and
human movement with information that
can educate, inspire and empower people
to change and improve the outcome,” said
Charles Black, founder and CEO of Sen.
“Our teams have worked extensively [with
NanoAvionics] over the last six months
to ensure the satellite bus will meet our
specific requirements for streaming high
definition videos from several cameras.”

Capella, Rocket Lab to Launch SAR Satellite to Mid-Inclination

Capella Space has signed a deal with monitoring – using on-demand, accurate Space, a San Francisco-based company,
Rocket Lab to launch one of the Synthetic Earth observation data,” said Payam aims to offer hourly coverage of every point
Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites in its Banazadeh, CEO of Capella Space. on Earth, rendered in sub-meter resolution,
Whitney Constellation, calling it the first- “Launching our first Whitney satellite on and to help customers interpret that data
ever SAR satellite to deliver commercial a dedicated Rocket Lab mission allows with an in-house platform. The company
data into a mid-inclination orbit. The us to stay in control of our orbit and focus also plans to launch its first commercial
mission will launch mid-2020 on an on our goal to deliver customer-focused satellite, named Sequoia, on a SpaceX
Electron launch vehicle from Rocket Lab’s solutions in a timely manner.” Capella Falcon 9 rocket in late March.
Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s
Māhia Peninsula. Capella Space will be
the primary payload on the Electron launch
vehicle, allowing Capella to select the
specific orbit and launch timeline. Capella
Space said the the satellite positioning
to a 45 degree inclination will maximize
coverage over the Middle East, Korea,
Japan, South East Asia, Africa, and the
U.S. Christian Lenz, Capella Space vice
president of Engineering, said the mid-
inclination orbit is in response to customer
needs. “At Capella Space, we help our
customers solve some of the world’s
biggest and most complex problems –
from climate change to infrastructure

87 MARCH 2020