ESA Φsat-2 Mission Adds AI to EO
ESA Φsat-2 Mission Adds AI to EO
Intended to Significantly Improve Earth Observation Data
Artificial intelligence technologies have achieved remarkable successes and continue to show their value as backbones in scientific research and real-world applications. ESA’s new Φsat-2 mission, launching in the coming weeks, will push the boundaries of AI for Earth observation – demonstrating the transformative potential of AI for space technology.
“Φsat-2 will unlock a new era of real-time insights from space and will allow for custom AI apps to be easily developed, installed, and operated on the satellite even while in orbit."
Nicola Melega, ESA
Earth observation has, for decades, provided a rich stream of actionable data for scientists, businesses and policymakers. Thanks to new satellites and advanced sensors, the scale and quality of available Earth observation data have risen exponentially in the past decade.
The integration of AI has significantly enhanced Earth observation. AI capabilities allow for more data to be processed quickly and accurately, enabling the transformation of vast amounts of raw data into actionable insights.
As part of an initiative to promote the development and implementation of innovative technologies onboard Earth observation missions, ESA launched Φsat-1 in 2020. It was ESA’s first experiment to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can be used for Earth observation and paved the way for its successor: Φsat-2.
Φsat-2 is a dedicated AI mission which will fully explore the benefits and capabilities of utilizing extended onboard processing and further demonstrate the benefits of using AI for innovative Earth observation. Measuring just 22 x 10 x 33 cm, ESA’s Φsat-2 satellite is equipped with a multispectral camera and powerful AI computer that analyzes and processes imagery in real-time – promising to deliver smarter and more efficient ways of monitoring our planet.
With six AI applications running onboard, the satellite is designed to turn images into maps, detect clouds in the images, classify them and provide insight into cloud distribution, detect and classify vessels, compress images on board and reconstruct them in the ground reducing the download time, spot anomalies in marine ecosystems and detect wildfires.
“Φsat-2 will unlock a new era of real-time insights from space and will allow for custom AI apps to be easily developed, installed, and operated on the satellite even while in orbit," said ESA’s Φsat-2 Technical Officer Nicola Melega. "This adaptability maximizes the satellite's value for scientists, businesses and governments.”
The Φsat-2 mission is a collaborative effort between ESA and Open Cosmos who serves as the prime contractor, supported by an industrial consortium including Ubotica, GGI, CEiiA, GEO-K, KP-Labs, and SIMERA.
Φsat-2 will share its ride into orbit with ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite. Liftoff is planned in July 2024 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Φsat-2 carries a multispectral instrument that images Earth in seven different bands and, through its AI applications, is capable of many things that can provide actionable information on the ground.