constellr has released its ‘first light’ image from HiVE’s SkyBee-1, a satellite whose development was supported by the ESA InCubed programme. Captured just weeks after the satellite’s launch, the image provides an unprecedented, high-resolution thermal map of Tokyo at night, demonstrating building-level temperature detail.
Co-funded by the ESA InCubed programme, and in collaboration with AIKO and D-Orbit, Planetek Italia’s AIX mission has reached a major milestone with the launch of AIX-1p aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This marks the first step in a transformative journey to create a revolutionary framework for deploying in-orbit applications, enabled by cutting-edge AI technologies.
Supported by the ESA InCubed programme, constellr has successfully launched its first thermal infrared monitoring satellite ‘Sky Bee-1’ on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Sky-Bee-1 will continuously capture high-resolution thermal images of the planet, enabling smarter decisions for climate action, sustainable resource use, and global food security.
ESA InCubed renews its contract with AIKO to expand autonomous space solutions with orbital_OLIVER, developed as a key technology for the future of satellite operations, particularly as the industry shifts towards greater autonomy and the management of increasingly complex satellite constellations.
InCubed signed a contract with KP Labs for the development of Smart Ecosystem Missions as a Service (SMEaaS). This is an innovative service platform that defines a new way of selling upstream DPUs, by bringing them into the virtual world and introducing hardware as a virtual service.
InCubed signed a contract with Deimos Space for the development of Insight4EO, a solution for Earth observation LEO missions that provides innovative on-board processing and intelligence services, increasing mission autonomy, throughput and return-on-investment.
Supported by ESA InCubed, the Starion Group is developing SmartDIG, a commercial AI-powered EO archaeology service. SmartDIG will provide an efficient, user-friendly tool that significantly speeds up access to the information required by developers, urban planners, and government organisations.
The Golden Twins, an InCubed-supported activity, has just kicked off. Geosystems Hellas is managing a Greek consortium – AUTH, NTUA, NKUA, and EMTEC Space – to develop an online marketplace for private businesses, governmental agencies and municipalities, in the economy and insurance, environmental protection, emergencies, and maritime monitoring sectors.
InCubed is supporting the IngeniArs’ HPCEX project for the development of a high-end edge processing module qualified for Class 1 missions. The module will be based on a processing board including a space-qualified GPU, allowing parallel computing acceleration and AI algorithm implementation.
ESA InCubed is supporting SkyLabs for the development of the NANOhpc-obc multicore onboard computer, which will allow a higher degree of on-board real-time processing of data and provide various extensions capabilities, in order to increase the computational capacities required per each use case.
ReOrbit, a Helsinki-based leading provider of software-defined satellites, has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) phase with the European Space Agency for its UKKO Mission, part of the ESA InCubed programme.
ESA InCubed signed a contract with Motion Products Kft. for the development of Combine InSAR, an application for the visualisation of the results of Sentinel-1-based InSAR processing and land surveying data.
InCubed signed a contract with Marble Imaging, the prime contractor of a consortium with Scanway S.A. Funded by InCubed, SEMOViS focuses on the development of a very-high-resolution optical payload, which will fly on the first Marble satellite. The launch is planned for 2026.
InCubed signed a contract with Irreo for the development of an advanced irrigation system that combines the potential of modern satellite observation technology, AI and automation to increase crop yield through the improvement of water efficiency.
Φ-lab InCubed and Innovative Data Service B.V. signed a contract to develop BrightSkies, an activity that seeks to provide end-users with actionable methane emission information derived from multiple current and future satellites, as a way to counteract global warming.
The WMF innovation event has an intense agenda of expositions, seminars, B2B meetings, networking and entertainment. ESA’s Earth Observation Directorate is a sponsor, and Φ-lab is showcasing its work in the ESA booth and presenting EO start-up competitions on AI and Quantum Computing.
ESA InCubed has granted co-funding to the Hungarian company EnviroSense for the development of Tree Species, a service based on the processing of multispectral and multitemporal satellite data, and aerial LIDAR data, to determine tree volume, species composition and proportion.
InCubed will be continuing its support of ReOrbit’s UKKO activity by co-funding the next phase. UKKO is a satellite software stack and avionics bundle for EO satellites, which the Finnish company will now integrate into a custom platform and fly the entire package on an in-orbit demonstration mission carrying an optical payload and optical communication system for satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-ground links.
A high-performance onboard computer with integrated AI@edge capabilities will be developed under co-funding from ESA InCubed. The brainchild of Slovenian company SkyLabs, the radiation-tolerant HPC 4 AI processor will be optimised for performance versus power consumption and feature multi-unit clustering for maximum flexibility.
The ESA InCubed programme has granted co-funding to Supersharp, enabling the British company to develop SPIRIT, an ultra-compact, high-resolution, wide-field-of-view thermal infrared camera for use by EO operators. SPIRIT imagery will be used to produce heat maps with an unparalleled revisit rate to monitor the energy usage of buildings worldwide.
An event in Oslo is bringing together InCubed, NOSA and Norwegian industry. InCubed is presenting its mission and initiatives, along with holding bilateral meetings to discuss possible InCubed support for new activities.
InCubed is supporting Spanish company Airbus Crisa in bringing NICE (New Instrument Controller Electronics) to market. NICE is a new generation satellite control unit, and InCubed is co-funding the development of both its power conditioning module and the optical links of the payload controller module.
A web application for the detection of illegal construction in sparsely populated areas will be developed under co-funding from ESA InCubed. Conceived by Estonia-based Datel AS, the tool will utilise machine learning algorithms to derive building-related insight from Copernicus Sentinel-1 SAR and land registry records.
Following on from the successful InCubed-supported EO-DDL activity, the programme is now co-funding SENER’s EODDL-LYNX product. Designed for EO satellites, EODDL-LYNX will integrate a payload data transmitter module with an X-band electronically steerable antenna to give a flexible, lightweight and cost-effective data downlink solution.
InCubed is co-funding the High-Performance Computing Edge Extension activity (HPCEX). To be developed by Italian company IngeniArs, HPCEX is a high-end edge processing module for satellites. The unit will be qualified for ESA Class I missions but also adaptable to low-cost commercial satellites.
With support from InCubed, British start-up Messium will develop an application for monitoring the top-of-canopy Nitrogen concentration for wheat crops. Based on satellite-derived hyperspectral data, the interface will complement in-situ measurements and help in the adoption of variable-rate fertiliser distribution.
The ESA InCubed programme has granted co-funding to HISDESAT, enabling the Spanish company to develop an AI-backed toolbox for the analysis of data from the PAZ satellite. Dubbed ATR4PAZ, the application will aid analysts in the detection, classification and extraction of information on objects of interest from the satellite’s SAR imagery.
ESA’s first-ever Earth Observation Commercialisation Forum is taking place at ESA Headquarters in Paris. Investors, institutions, entrepreneurs and companies of any size from the EO sector are coming together to discuss the commercial potential and challenges of Earth observation, together with the technical, industrial and risk-capital support available to European companies. Register here.
Commercial Space Days is being held in Lucerne in Switzerland. The congress allows leading space companies to meet with key experts in economics, innovation and business in order to discuss entrepreneurship, the space revolution and the next era of space commercialisation. Head of Φ-lab Giuseppe Borghi is attending and presenting the mission and activities of InCubed.
The ESA InCubed programme has granted co-funding to AIRMO, enabling the German company to develop MicroLIDAR, a satellite with a greenhouse-gas detection payload. MicroLIDAR will allow companies, particularly in the oil and gas sector, to monitor emissions and leaks at their facilities in order to take appropriate action.
We Make Future is at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy. WMF is an all-encompassing annual event on digital, technological and social innovation. The gathering includes speakers, exhibitions, a B2B meeting area and a start-up competition. Φ-lab is there with its own stand full of exhibits, and Head of the Φ-lab Explore Office Pierre Philippe Mathieu is giving a speech.
Thales Alenia Space Italy will develop microDRCE (Digital Radar Central Electronics for Microsatellites) under InCubed co-funding. This highly flexible product will implement all the standard data acquisition modes as part of a configurable SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) sub-150-kg satellite constellation.
Beyond Gravity Sweden has signed an InCubed contract for co-funding the development of RoccS, a commercial radio occultation data service. Based on a GRAS-2 sensor on ESA’s MetOp-SG constellation, RoccS will sell atmospheric data to customers in the fields of weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
The first InCubed thematic call has been launched on the topic of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Companies are invited to submit promising business ideas for developing EO-related products and services that address challenges in this domain, with a particular focus on coastal areas. Deadline: 31 March 2023.
