OPENSPACE 22: Rosetta: Making Space History | Page 13

NorthStar will consist of a constellation of 40 satellites
in Low Earth Orbit, the associated ground control
stations, a data processing and distribution system,
and value-added service platforms.
T
he commercial space sector is playing a greater role will include sensors designed to detect and track objects in
than ever in bringing the benefits of space assets Low Earth Orbit and in Geosynchronous Orbit. This Space
to a wider population. In the Earth observation Situational Awareness is critical to governments, military
domain, several commercial initiatives are underway that organizations, and private operators of spaceborne assets
target the development of large constellations of Earth all around the planet.
imaging satellites and the associated provision of geospatial RHEA Group is currently supporting NorthStar in the
information and services. Existing examples of such private mission and system definition phase. NorthStar will consist
ventures include Google’s Terrabella or Planet Labs, both of a constellation of 40 satellites in Low Earth Orbit, the
of which focus on capturing imagery in the optical domain. associated ground control stations, a data processing and
Montreal-based company NorthStar (http://northstar-data. distribution system, and value-added service platforms
com) is currently developing an entirely new concept that that will allow access to cloud-based IT resources, data,
has the potential to revolutionize the geospatial services products, information, and services.
industry. NorthStar is the first commercial system to “The NorthStar system offers a state of the art, unique
combine hyperspectral and infrared sensors to observe the combination of 3 key capabilities: rich data content from
Earth and obtain a wealth of information about any object on hyperspectral imaging, frequent imaging revisit over a
the planet. Using software analysis and predictive analytics, geographical area, and real-time information provision.
NorthStar will generate real-time solutions for the world’s This will open up worldwide new markets and applications
most challenging problems and transmit these directly of Earth observation. RHEA Group is proud to contribute
to end users. Applications of hyperspectral imagery are to this project from the onset, and will look forward to a
numerous, covering domains such as energy and natural prolonged partnership with NorthStar”, said Cedric Seynat,
resources, forestry and agriculture, urban planning, and RHEA Group’s project manager on the NorthStar project.
environmental monitoring.
In addition, the Northstar mission also targets the tracking of
space objects, including space debris: NorthStar’s satellites
Read more
http://www.northstar-data.com
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