In today’s episode, we’re going to be discussing how Artificial Intelligence can be used to enhance Earth Observation.

Most of the images generated by satellites will never be seen by human eyes. There simply aren’t enough humans on Earth—let alone trained experts—to sift through the TBs of imagery generated daily and extract valuable intelligence and insight.

Big data and AI approaches can be used for innovative and cost-effective management and processing of data, learning to recognise patterns and find correlations that humans would otherwise miss. New insights unlocked in this way offer the potential to deliver value to a range of users across markets such as finance, insurance, transport, and agriculture.

Our host Dallas Campbell is joined in the studio by Dr. Freddie Kalaitzis from the University of Oxford, James Parr, Founder of Trillium Technologies, and Maral Bayaraa from the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Trillium Technologies: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn
University of Oxford: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Welcome to In-Orbit – the fortnightly podcast exploring how technology from space is empowering a better world.

This podcast is brought to you by the Satellite Applications Catapult, a UK technology and innovation company driving economic growth through the commercialisation of space, and hosted by writer and broadcaster, Dallas Campbell.

The UK has always played a pivotal role in transforming the space sector, but the opportunity for us to become a global leader is now. As a nation, we need to become the world’s best adopters of new space technologies, harness the strength of our industries, and exploit the benefits of being in orbit.

Across this new series, we’ll be in conversation with the expert minds behind these new innovations, exploring the ways that the UK is translating data from space into real-world impact.

Join us on our journey exploring how the UK is using space to make huge differences to our everyday lives, as well as gaining a better understanding of its role in shaping – and sustaining – our planet for the future.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook

Amber is expected to be the first of a constellation of satellites to provide Maritime Domain Awareness data to users. Using unique, patented technology, the system will geolocate and demodulate radio frequency data from ships around the world, including listening for the presence or absence of a ships Automatic Identification System (AIS).

Amber forms part of the Satellite Applications Catapult’s In-Orbit Demonstration programme, also known as IOD. The In-Orbit Demonstration Programme offers partners a fast-track, low-cost opportunity to test their service or technology on a CubeSat mission (a small satellite ranging from the size of a loaf of bread to the size of microwave) launched into low Earth orbit. IOD helps accelerate to ‘proof of concept’ stage by providing an affordable in-orbit testbed and a range of operational and business support services to exploit the commercial potential of the mission. 

This episode is hosted by the Satellite Applications Catapult's Head of Access to Space, Mike Curtis-Rouse. Mike is joined by Nick Marshall, Project Manager of Amber at the Satellite Applications Catapult, John Beckner, CEO of Horizon Technologies, and Peter Anderson, CCO at AAC Clyde Space.

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

The UK is home to some of the world’s leading space companies and satellite manufacturers, but they have never been able to launch from the UK itself – until now. We are on the cusp of a major milestone as a spacefaring nation.

This mission from Spaceport Cornwall marks the beginning of a new domestic launch market as
the UK completes its end-to-end ecosystem, enabling companies to design, build, launch and operate their spacecraft all from one place.

This historic launch is bringing together a combination of skills, capabilities, infrastructure, and organisations of all sizes from across the UK and beyond to support innovation and ensure that companies operating in space have the skills and the resources they need to make themselves a success.

This episode is hosted by the CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult, Stuart Martin. Stuart is joined by Dan Hart, CEO of Virgin Orbit, Matthew Archer, Commercial Space Director at the UK Space Agency, and Melissa Thorpe, Head of Spaceport Cornwall.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Virgin Orbit: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Spaceport Cornwall: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
UK Space Agency: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

The Westcott Space Cluster is a growing nucleus of space-related companies developing new technologies in rocket propulsion, 5G communications, and in-orbit manufacturing to name a few. The site offers unique testing facilities in a secure and controlled environment where sector experts can help businesses to identify and benefit from the opportunities in these emerging fields.

The Expo, hosted in July this year, was a celebration and showcase of the organisations developing these next-generation technologies and building new opportunities for the UK space industry.

In this episode we’re sharing the Integrating Drone Aircraft into National Airspace panel, discussing the current challenges in operating autonomous systems, requirements for business growth, and what needs to be considered as we move away from segregated airspace.

This episode is introduced by our Chief Operating Officer, Lucy Edge. The panel is hosted by our Head of Transport, Liam Braeger, and he is joined by Clem Robertson of R4darTech, Richard Ellis of Altitude Angel, Michael Merritt of Skyports, Kieran Arnold of Sat Applications Catapult, Ajay Modha of FlyANRA.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Westcott Space Cluster: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

The Westcott Space Cluster is a growing nucleus of space-related companies developing new technologies in rocket propulsion, 5G communications, and in-orbit manufacturing to name a few. The site offers unique testing facilities in a secure and controlled environment where sector experts can help businesses to identify and benefit from the opportunities in these emerging fields.

The Expo, hosted in July this year, was a celebration and showcase of the organisations developing these next-generation technologies and building new opportunities for the UK space industry.

In this episode we’re sharing the Small Business Growth panel – companies with both a new and established presence within the Westcott Space Cluster discuss how the unique testing facilities on site are invaluable to their growth, why more international companies are putting down roots in the UK, and explore the next steps in a move towards more sustainable solutions for space.

This episode is introduced by our Chief Operating Officer, Lucy Edge. The panel is hosted by Avantika Gupta of Type One Ventures, and she is joined by Charlie Young of Plastron, Emily Dingle of URA Thrusters, Manny Shar of OrbitFab, and James Macfarlane of Airborne Engineering.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Westcott Space Cluster: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

The Westcott Space Cluster is a growing nucleus of space-related companies developing new technologies in rocket propulsion, 5G communications, and in-orbit manufacturing to name a few. The site offers unique testing facilities in a secure and controlled environment where sector experts can help businesses to identify and benefit from the opportunities in these emerging fields.

The Expo, hosted in July this year, was a celebration and showcase of the organisations developing these next-generation technologies and building new opportunities for the UK space industry.

In this first episode, we’ll be sharing the Commercial Space panel – our guests explore the challenges and opportunities within the evolution of a new in-space economy and discuss how we can improve our access to space whilst ensuring our activities bring value back down to Earth.

This episode is introduced by our Chief Operating Officer, Lucy Edge. The panel is hosted by Mike Curtis-Rouse of the Satellite Applications Catapult, and he is joined by Chris Brunskill of D-Orbit, Alberto Garbayo of AVS UK, Matt Escott of Protolaunch, Talini Pinto of SpaceForge, Jeff Fiege of Radian Aerospace, and Armando Rojas of Nanoavionics, who joined the panel remotely.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Westcott Space Cluster: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

The National Space Strategy was published in September 2021, bringing together the UK’s strengths in science and technology, defence, regulation and diplomacy to pursue a bold national vision of growing the UK as a science and technology superpower. The Strategy is a considerable undertaking and driving it forward will require knowledge, insight, and evidence of where new interventions are best targeted.

The National Space Partnership will build a much-needed, unified relationship between Government, industry, and academia, providing co-ordinated strategic insight and advice to the space sector, creating an agile and robust approach to supporting the delivery of the National Space Strategy.

Our host, Sarah Cruddas, talks to Ruth Mallors-Ray of RMR Consultants, Andy Shaw from Assimila Ltd, and Mark Presley from MAP Analytica.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
National Space Partnership: Website, LinkedIn
Assimila Ltd: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn
MAP Analytica: Website, LinkedIn

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Without space, we would not know nearly as much about our need to act against climate change as we currently do. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events increases, there has never been more of a need for this type of information.

This is particularly true for people of Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. Despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, small island nation developing states are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. With around one-third of the population living less than five metres above sea level, rising waters are forcing communities from their ancestral homes, as land and lives are lost to the effects of climate change.

Recognising the need to act, the UK Space Agency funded IPP CommonSensing project has created a tool to support these nations and assist decision-makers in their efforts. Through the CommonSensing platform, map-based evidence can be used to navigate the complex funding landscape, resilience and relocation efforts, disaster risk reduction, and enhanced food security.

Visit the CommonSensing website >>

Our host Sarah Cruddas is joined virtually from Fiji by Leba Gaunavinaka from UNOSAT and Katherine Cooke from The Commonwealth; and from the UK, Richard Oates from Spatial Days and the Satellite Applications Catapult, and Nathan Woodley, also from the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Website
CommonSensing: Twitter, Website
UNITAR-UNOSAT: UNITAR Twitter, UNOSAT Twitter, LinkedIn, Website
The Commonwealth: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Website

Spatial Days: LinkedIn, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.

Access to space in the UK is changing. New technologies emerge every year, creating the opportunity for new types of companies to exploit the power of space.

The next natural step in the UK space industry’s journey, is launch.

Spaceport sites have been planned across the UK, including in Scotland and Cornwall, which could cement the country as Europe's most attractive destination for commercial spaceflight activities. But what will these spaceports look like, how will they operate, and what challenges are we facing?

Our host Sarah Cruddas is joined remotely from the Westcott Space Cluster by Mike Curtis-Rouse from the Satellite Applications Catapult, and Matt Escott from Protolaunch, and from Argentina, Dan Etenberg from LIA Aerospace.

Satellite Applications Catapult: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
Protolaunch: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn
LIA Aerospace: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.