BlackSky with major Space Situational Awarness related contract

BlackSky expands into space domain awareness through strategic partnership with hEO

HEO specializes in NEI and space analytics. The newly established partnership integrates BlackSky’s satellite constellation into HEO’s sensor network. This collaboration enables capturing space objects data, especially over the middle latitudes of Earth, using previously unused satellite capacity when satellites are passing over oceans or during eclipse phases. The contract has entered its second phase focusing on automating the tasking and delivery of NEI products. This is the result of the earlier successful proof of concept.

BlackSky’s satellites will be tasked through HEO’s automated platform, HEO Inspect, which identifies imaging opportunities and processes data through an API system. Once collected NEI imagery and metadata will be transferred to HEO Inspect for detailed analysis. Advanced algorithms will generate reports that include key information about observed satellites such as for example their location or attitude.

This contract reflects the increasing demand for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) as the number of satellites and other objects in orbit constantly grows. With more space activity comes a higher risk of collision and though increasing the amount of debris. That is why SDA is critical for ensuring the safety of space operations. BlackSky and HEO’s collaboration aims to meet this need by providing actionable insights on spacecraft and orbital objects, enhancing both companies’ positions in the growing commercial SDA market.

In June 2022 spacenews informed that several new companies in North America, Europe, and Australia have raised money to develop space systems to offer better, more complete, and reliable information about objects in space. At least some of them cooperate with traditional Earth Observation providers such as for example Maxar Technologies or Axelspace.