A Guildford-made satellite prototype capable of filming moving objects such as cars while in orbit has been launched into space.
Earth-i, based at Surrey Research Park, sent the prototype for the Vivid-i Constellation up into space on Friday (January 12).
The company says the constellation will significantly increase the ability of companies and institutions to monitor, track and analyse activities, patterns of life and changes at any location on earth.
It will be capable of filming moving objects such as vehicles, vessels and aircraft in Ultra High Definition colour video.
To boldly go...
The prototype satellite, designated CARBONITE-2 by manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), also based in Guildford, was launched on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Sriharikota rocket launch centre operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
CARBONITE-2 will demonstrate and prove technology and processes for Earth-i’s forthcoming constellation, including tasking, data downlinks to ground stations, image quality and the complex motion control systems that enable the spacecraft to capture video from space.
The satellite weighs 100kg and will orbit at 505km above the earth travelling at approximately 7km a second.
It will be able to film up to two minutes at a time of video which can show moving objects such as vehicles, vessels and aircraft.
The company says the launch of its technology is being driven by commercial and governmental organisations that want to use high-quality, timely images and video from space.
Reasons include to improve investment and trading decisions, monitor and track their assets more cost effectively, track changes or activities in critical locations - and predict future events with more certainty.
Footage will be available for analysis within minutes of being captured, which Earth-i says will improve decision-making and response times in a wide variety of scenarios, from change detection and object identification, to disaster response and infrastructure monitoring.
Richard Blain, chief executive of Earth-i, said: “Today is a significant milestone for Earth-i and for the global space industry.
"It’s the culmination of much hard work by the teams at Earth-i and SSTL.
"We are now researching and testing the technology and data services for the Vivid-i Constellation using the still and video imagery from this prototype - and showing our customers what will be possible in the future from new capabilities such as colour video from space.”
Dr Graham Turnock, chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: "Today’s launch is a significant moment for the UK and global space industries with Earth-i’s progress being tracked across the world.
"Earth-i is an exciting and innovative British company and is a fine example of our thriving space sector.
“The government’s recently published industrial strategy set out a clear vision for the UK to become the world’s most innovative nation and we are working with industry to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030.”
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