Orbital Sidekick Deploys ISS Sensor System

December 19, 2018

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Orbital Sidekick (OSK) announces the successful deployment of its first-generation hyperspectral system on the NanoRacks External Platform on-board the International Space Station (ISS). The system is designed to enable efficient monitoring of energy assets and infrastructure integrity using OSK’s proprietary Spectral Intelligence™ platform.

Orbital Sidekick will initially provide monitoring solutions to the energy industry, leveraging extensive capabilities in aerial and space-based hyperspectral imaging and analytics. Current methods used by the industry fall short in providing scalable monitoring & early leak detection capabilities. With its Spectral IntelligenceTM analytics platform, OSK converts hyperspectral data into actionable information that can be used to optimize safety operations in the oil and gas industry while also achieving compliance obligations. According to MarketsandMarkets Research, the global pipeline monitoring systems market is estimated to grow from USD 4.13 Billion in 2015 to USD 8.72 Billion by 2026.

With the deployment of its first-generation sensor system on the ISS, OSK will unlock persistent monitoring services for its customers and further develop its propriety system for the needs of the global Energy sector. The firm ultimately aims to leverage its expertise and extend its capabilities to the Defense, Agriculture and Infrastructure sectors.

OSK has already received backing from the US Air Force, recently announcing that AFWERX, the United States Air Force program with the goal of fostering a culture of innovation within the service, has awarded OSK a Phase I SBIR contract for dual use technology pertaining to its space-based hyperspectral sensor on-board the International Space Station.

In 2019, OSK will team with Loft Orbital to deploy a second-generation hyperspectral payload, providing a high frequency monitoring solution that meets industry demands, while utilizing the partnerships, product testing and intelligence-gathering activity already underway. Loft Orbital provides affordable and reliable access to space infrastructure.

“Our team is already digging into the powerful data generated by our ISS-HEIST payload,” said Dan Katz, CEO & Co-Founder of Orbital Sidekick. “Beyond our primary commercial use case in the Energy sector, we plan on providing disaster monitoring services to deeply affected areas, particularly those close to home here in California.”

Katz continued, “NanoRacks has been instrumental in helping us bring this amazing hyperspectral capability to fruition on their ISS External Platform, and we’re incredibly excited to begin working with the Loft Orbital team on our 2019 mission.”

OSK currently operates aerial pilot programs with multiple oil & gas pipeline operators to deliver Spectral IntelligenceTM for asset integrity and regulatory compliance monitoring.

Source : Orbital Sidekick