SPACEBEL (1) Observation Nanosatellites Simulation & (2) ASCEND for Advanced EO Data Access and Management
Hemeria Relies on SPACEBEL for the JAPETUS Earth Observation Nanosatellites Simulation
Initiated by Prométhée, an emerging French NewSpace operator dedicated to Earth observation, the Japetus constellation will consist of 20 small satellites positioned 500 km above our heads. Its aim is to provide Earth observation data to players in the environment, security and defence sectors, and to contribute to the fight against global warming. The applications are vast, both at civil and military levels.
Toulouse-based Hemeria is in charge of building these satellites, which will weigh around 50kg and offer exceptional performance and capacity in terms of revisit, resolution, responsiveness and global coverage, partly as a result of the use of artificial intelligence.
Given the success of its partnership with SPACEBEL on the Kinéis constellation, Hemeria is once again turning to SPACEBEL for its recognised expertise in the development of modelling and simulation software for Space systems.
More specifically, our work concerns the development of the satellite simulator, which checks the correct functioning of the software and prepares the operations of the spacecraft in its future environment.
SPACEBEL thus adds a new application in the field of Space simulation, while strengthening our presence in the NewSpace sector.
This ambitious project also underlines the essential role of our software engineering solutions in protecting our citizens and our planet.
Following the launch of a demonstrator into orbit at the end of 2023, deployment of the dual Japetus Earth observation system is scheduled to start in 2025.
SPACEBEL Extending Involvement in ESA Earth Explorer Missions with ASCEND for Advanced EO Data Access and Management
Given the scientific challenges of future ESA Earth observation missions that will generate increasingly large volumes of data, the European Space Agency (ESA) has decided to optimize its EO ground segment with additional services ensuring highly performing data access and large-scale data processing methods.
Named ASCEND (Advanced Data Access and Processing Services for collaborative EO Ground Segment), the new set of user-friendly services have to offer a tailored, secure, interoperable and scalable collaborative environment with the following objectives:
discover, visualize, manipulate, share and analyse data of the ESA Earth Explorer missions BIOMASS, EarthCARE and FLEX;
simplify autonomous processing;
improve EO products through scientific cooperation.
With SERCO as prime contractor and SPACEBEL as subcontractor, these additional services will be integrated into the existing Common services at ESRIN, i.e. ESA’s ground segment meant for all ESA Earth observation satellites other than the Copernicus constellation:
Earth Explorers
Earth Watch (Proba-V & Altius)
Heritage Missions
Third Party Missions
As part of this recently kicked-off ASCEND project, SPACEBEL is in charge of the “Catalogue Service” development and the cloud-based “Data Access Service” development.
Good to know: the catalogue and discovery services for all ESA Earth Explorer missions are provided by the Common Services (Earth Observation Catalogue). The EO-CAT Catalogue server is an on-going development by SPACEBEL that handles state-of-the-art interfaces in line with OGC and CEOS specifications as well as Best Practices including STAC.
Also for the Common Services at ESRIN, SPACEBEL has developed the supporting “ESA SKOS thesaurus” listing all EO missions of the four above mentioned categories.
ASCEND is another fine example relying upon our know-how related to Web-based Spatial Data Infrastructure and Service provisioning infrastructure for Space Data access and management.
Furthermore, other SPACEBEL software is involved in ESA’s Earth Explorers EarthCARE (on-board device), GOCE and SMOS (simulation & testing systems).
In short, SPACEBEL definitely plays an important role in ESA’s pioneering science missions for Earth!
