Maritime surveillance supported by Hexagon lidar sensors
Hexagon is partnering with Airbus on a near-real-time airborne bathymetric lidar surveillance system, the Chiroptera 4X. read more
Pléiades Neo imaging satellites on track for mid-2020 launch
The first two Airbus-built Pléiades Neo imaging satellites have started comprehensive environmental testing to ensure they are ready for in-orbit operation, according to Airbus. During the tests, the satellites are subjected to extreme temperatures and vacuum, vibration and acoustic noise, as well as electromagnetic interference. This will ensure they can withstand the harsh conditions they will experience during launch and... read more
Airbus strengthens imagery capabilities with Vision-1
Airbus has enlarged its high-resolution imagery portfolio following an agreement to leverage capacity from the S1-4 satellite built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). The new imagery offer — called Vision-1 — delivers end-to-end imaging operations to Airbus’ customers. Vision-1 provides 0.9-meter resolution imagery in the panchromatic band and 3.5-meter in the multispectral bands (NIR, RGB), with a 20.8-kilometer swath... read more
Second SpaceDataHighway satellite successfully launches on Ariane 5
The EDRS-C satellite, the second node of the SpaceDataHighway network — also known as the European Data Relay System (EDRS) — has successfully launched into geostationary orbit at 31 degrees East by an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. According to Airbus, after a test period, it will double transmission capacity of the system in order to serve two... read more
Airbus and SSC join on Pléiades Neo for Earth observation
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Airbus have signed a contract for SSC ground segment support services to the new Pléiades Neo constellation of high resolution Earth Observation satellites. The contract marks an important step in the long-term partnership between SSC and Airbus, and extends the capabilities of both companies. The first two very high-resolution Pléiades Neo satellites will be launched... read more
Airbus digital elevation model available for streaming
Airbus Defense and Space’s edited WorldDEM database, along with the WorldDEM4Ortho dataset, are now available for streaming. WorldDEM is a single-source digital elevation model. According to the company, access to the WorldDEM and WorldDEM4Ortho of the entire Earth’s landmass facilitates a wide range of applications, such as line-of-sight analysis, hydrological modeling, satellite imagery orthorectification and more. The WorldDEM dataset corresponds... read more
Airbus and Planet bring new geospatial products to market
Airbus and Planet have entered into a partnership to facilitate access to each other’s data and the co-development of new geospatial solutions. The companies are establishing a framework agreement to explore opportunities for joint cooperation in new and existing markets, product offerings, sales and marketing efforts. Both companies aim to provide a comprehensive suite of global satellite data at multiple... read more
Airbus and U.S. Air Force commemorate 25 years of Eagle Vision program
Airbus Defence and Space is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Eagle Vision, its lightweight deployable imagery downlink ground station designed to process and distribute commercial satellite imagery in near-real time to support U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard missions in homeland security, combat and disaster relief. Eagle Vision allows downloading and processing of unclassified commercial satellite imagery directly in... read more
SpaceDataHighway starts full Copernicus service
The Airbus-operated SpaceDataHighway has begun regularly relaying data from the Sentinel-2A satellite, after the successful end of the commissioning period. This marks the start of the SpaceDataHighway service using all four Copernicus Sentinel satellites and the beginning of a new era for space-based imagery users. The first two sets of Earth-observing Copernicus Sentinels-1A and -1B and -2A and -2B are... read more
Airbus to provide near real-time access to its satellite data
Airbus has launched near real-time satellite imagery capabilities together with its 24/7 Emergency Image Delivery Service to aid those facing emergency situations. By leveraging the Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) polar ground station in Svalbard, Norway, Pléiades and SPOT constellation images are now retrieved at every orbit, resulting in ultra-fast image deliveries after collection, anywhere in the world. In addition to... read more
