Synspective and Arianespace have signed a contract to launch the satellite StriX-a, Synspective’s first SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) demonstrator satellite.

On April 18, 2019, Arianespace announced the signing of a launch service contract with Synspective for the launch of the satellite StriX-a (with a liftoff mass of approximately 150 kg.) into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) in 2020.

This will be the inaugural mission for a Synspective customer spacecraft on an Arianespace vehicle. The launch will take place from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana using a Vega launcher.

Synspective is a Japanese startup company that will establish a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation of about 25 satellites and provide geospatial solutions.

Gathering broad and high frequency monitoring data with its satellite constellation, Synspective aims to enable companies and governments to achieve their goal for sustainable development and resilient urban development through visualization and prediction of economic activity, monitoring of terrain and structure and immediate understanding of disaster situations.

In addition to the launch service contract, Synspective and Arianespace signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement to study a future cooperation.

Following the contract signature, Motoyuki Arai, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Synspective, said, “I feel very honored to work together with a world-leading launch services provider, Arianespace, to launch our first satellite.

This is a momentous stepping stone for the constellation which will bring innovation for data-driven business and sustainable development. I’m also very excited about the joint study to mutually enhance our business and technical strength. I want to thank everyone who made these collaborations come true.”

Stephane Israel, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, added, “Arianespace is delighted to welcome Synspective as a new customer, enhancing our relationship with Japan and once again proving the relevance of our launch services offering for Earth observation satellites.

With Vega in 2020 and through a more global partnership, we are looking forward to contributing to the deployment of the Synspective constellation, which puts innovation in space at the service of a better life on Earth.”

Related Links

Arianespace

Earth Observation News – Suppiliers, Technology and Application

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook – our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don’t have a paywall – with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Greek researchers enlist EU satellite against Aegean sea litter

Lesbos Island, Greece (AFP) April 22, 2019


Knee-deep in water on a picture-postcard Lesbos island beach, a team of Greek university students gently deposits a wall-sized PVC frame on the surface before divers moor it at sea.

Holding in plastic bags and bottles, four of the 5 metre-by-5-metre (16 foot-by-16-foot) frames are part of an experiment to determine if seaborne litter can be detected with EU satellites and drones.

“This was the first big day,” says project supervisor Konstantinos Topuzelis, an assistant professor at the Universit … read more