Dragonfly Aerospace To Build EOS SAT’s First Satellite
EOS Data Analytics, a global provider of AI-powered satellite imagery analytics, has entered into an agreement with Dragonfly Aerospace to deliver the first optical satellite designed to provide satellite imagery and analytics for agriculture and environmental monitoring.
The satellite manufactured by Dragonfly Aerospace is initially planned for launch in 2022. According to the previous agreement between EOS Data Analytics (EOSDA) and Dragonfly Aerospace, the two DragonEye electro-optical imagers will be mounted on a 100kg class µDragonfly satellite platform.
Satellite images may be used for various purposes addressing the everyday needs of both large agro companies and smallholding farmers. The range of cases satellite monitoring can be used for but is not limited to crop prediction, vegetation state control, weed and pest management, weather forecast, and many more. Besides, remote sensing contributes to climate change prevention and satisfaction of global food demand by supporting precision agriculture, which enables farmers to make weighed, data-driven decisions.
EOS Data Analytics is happy to announce the details of the EOS SAT-1 satellite launch and an expanded deal with Dragonfly Aerospace. We have been planning the EOS SAT-1 satellite for some time. Now, we can turn these plans into reality by partnering with Dragonfly Aerospace for the full imaging satellite. EOSDA did a thorough review of all available satellite bus suppliers and, in the end, selected Dragonfly Aerospace as the best-performing partner for this mission.
EOSDA selected the µDragonfly satellite platform as it corresponds to the imaging requirements critical for precision farming. The satellite will provide a 22 km swath width per telescope and large coverage of the farmland areas that are especially useful for big agro holdings. The massive volumes of data can be captured thanks to high data rate transmitters and µDragonfly bus’s power system, which is capable of maintaining substantial imaging and downlinking.
The µDragonfly satellite will capture images with the help of dual high-resolution DragonEye image sensors. They will provide 11 spectral bands with resolutions of up to 1,5m panchromatic and 3m multispectral. The satellite’s service period is five years, and all the main components are fully redundant.
This is an important contract for Dragonfly Aerospace that allows us to demonstrate our capabilities not only in high-performance electro-optical imagers but also in full-imaging satellite systems. We are very pleased that our customer EOS Data Analytics has shown the confidence in our team to select us for providing the satellite bus after working with us for the past year on the imager contract.
Nowadays, when extensive farming has proven to be not cost-effective and harmful to the environment, the enhancement of agricultural effectiveness is a burning issue. Using satellite monitoring will open up vast opportunities for farmers who seek profitable yet environmentally friendly solutions. In the face of topical problems such as climate crisis and overpopulation, which stimulate augmenting food demand, the innovative space technologies EOSDA employs in its products, may positively impact humanity’s wellbeing.
EOS SAT benefits comprise:
- The unique set of agro-spectral bands
- Sun-synchronous orbits with a 1-3 days revisit capability to monitor agricultural regions
- Imagery of the target area delivered within 24 hours
With the implementation of the EOS SAT-1 project, EOS Data Analytics will continue contributing to the world space industry, providing valuable tech solutions for the agricultural sector and other industries the company concentrates on.
About Dragonfly Aerospace
Dragonfly Aerospace creates compact high-performance imaging payloads and satellites that are designed for large imaging constellations that will provide persistent views of the Earth in a wide range of spectrums enabling unprecedented business intelligence and improving the lives of people around the world.
About the author:
Natalia Borotkanych has a PhD in space history, Master’s Degree in Foreign Policy from the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, as well as Master’s Degree in Public Management and Administration from National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine. Natalia's experience includes working in business, science, education, and government projects for over 15 years.
Recent articles
Soil Moisture: How To Measure & Monitor Its Level
Soil moisture content has a profound effect on the development of crops. Different soil moisture measuring instruments help farmers to maintain its optimal balance. One of the most effective is satellite monitoring.
Oil Palm Plantation: Cultivation And Management
Palm oil is an in-demand commodity, so growing oil palm trees in plantations is a popular business. It is highly efficient when plantation owners know cultivation specifics and crop needs.
GIS In Agriculture: Best Practices For AgriTech Leaders
It's hard to overstate the role of GIS solutions for agriculture, particularly for global industry leaders. If you strive for productive and sustainable farming, look at GIS systems that can track a variety of factors over vast areas worldwide.