EOSDA Sent Its First Agro-Satellite On Jan 3 To Orbit
On January 3, 2023, EOS SAT-1, the initial satellite of EOS SAT, the first agri-focused satellite constellation launched by a remote sensing company, was successfully delivered into a low Earth orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
EOS SAT is a constellation consisting of seven small optical satellites created by EOS Data Analytics, a global provider of AI-powered satellite imagery analytics founded by Dr. Max Polyakov, to support the implementation of sustainable agriculture methods and environmental monitoring of forestlands by providing high-quality data for analysis.
All seven satellites are being built by Dragonfly Aerospace, a space imaging systems technology provider. A full-cycle operational process is established via vertical integration of the Polyakov’s Noosphere group of companies – EOS Data Analytics, Dragonfly Aerospace, SETS, and Flight Control Propulsion. After reaching full operation by 2025, EOS SAT will cover up to 100% of countries with the largest areas of farmlands and forestlands, amounting to 98.5% of such lands across the globe.
EOS SAT will assist agribusinesses in monitoring crop growth and detecting heat, cold, water stress, weed spread, pest attacks, and other issues threatening crops. The companies will also be able to optimize their input use based on productivity and vegetation maps provided by the satellite constellation, test the effectiveness of new crop protection products or fertilizers, avoid unnecessary field inspections and thus reduce fuel use, manage irrigation, estimate yields, and more.
EOS SAT-1 monitors up to one million square kilometers daily using 11 agri-related bands. Yet even with only one such satellite in the sky, EOSDA customers unlock the potential to implement precision agriculture practices and thus reduce CO2 emissions, cut energy consumption, decrease water usage, and more.
I would like to congratulate the entire team of EOS Data Analytics on the launch of EOS SAT-1. This launch brings new game-changing possibilities of satellite technologies to the agricultural industry. EOSDA will now work with proprietary datasets to provide even deeper and more accurate insights for its customers and partners.
By 2025, the constellation will monitor up to 12 million square kilometers on a daily basis. Its satellite cameras will generate panchromatic and multispectral imagery using 13 agri-related bands to provide specific information about the required aspects of the land in question.
We’re excited to be the technology partner for EOS SAT, the first commercial constellation tailored specifically to agriculture needs. The demand for high-performance, compact and lightweight satellites keeps growing each year providing a great market for our imaging products. At the same time, it is great to have a customer with such a clear focus on addressing issues that are key to the sustainability of life on the planet. Having an agri-focused set of sensors, EOS SAT will collect the data that can actually help decision makers take care of the Earth and maintain its biodiversity while providing food security for its many people.
At the moment, most competing companies are forced to work with the data provided by third-party satellites, which makes them dependent on the quality of their sensors, the frequency of imaging, and other parameters they have no control over. Being oriented specifically at the needs of the agriculture industry, EOS SAT will provide unprecedented amounts of data for EOSDA as often and detailed as the company’s clients need.
To address the issues of existing satellites, such as low sensor resolution, limited spectral capacities, and poor performance during cloudy weather, EOS SAT satellite cameras will capture imagery using 13 agri-related bands: RGB, 2 NIR channels, 3 RedEdge channels, WaterVapor, Aerosol, Pan, and 2 SWIR channels. EOS SAT-1 will have 11 spectral bands, excluding the SWIR bands.
EOS SAT-2 and the following satellites are expected to get into orbit within 2023-2024. The full operational capability of the EOS SAT constellation is scheduled to be achieved in 2025.
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About the author:
Rim Elijah joined EOSDA in early 2020. She holds a double degree in business administration and political science from Stockholm University.
Rim is VP of Sales at EOSDA. She is overseeing all aspects of business model development and implementation, maintenance of positive business & customer experience, and the growth of the company’s global coverage. She is responsible for closing deals, scaling up ongoing projects, as well as the development and implementation of process control within the Sales department. Rim also regularly takes part in negotiations with important clients.
So far, Rim has managed to successfully establish a number of strategic partnerships with an emphasis on the delivery of sustainable solutions in various regions of Africa and Asia.
In addition to her main responsibilities, Rim is presently involved in the upcoming launch of the first agri-based satellite constellation by EOSDA, scheduled for mid-2022. She manages relationships with the EOS SAT investors.
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