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. The integration of AI has significantly enhanced Earth observation. AI capabilities allow for more data to be processed quickly and accurately, helping to enable to transform 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 Ф-sat-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 utilising 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 analyses 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.
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 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, including: Cloud detection, Street map generation, Maritime vessel detection, On-board image compression and reconstruction, Marine anomaly detection, Wildfire detection.