Posts Tagged ‘space’
ICEYE and the Jane Goodall Institute deploy SAR-based deforestation monitoring to protect Congo Basin wildlife habitats
ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space, has entered a partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute USA (JGI) to deploy its Deforestation Solution across conservation corridors in the Congo Basin, with initial operations focused on the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The eastern DRC is often called the “green heart” of Africa. Its vast rainforests, the world’s second largest, are a critical habitat for chimpanzees, harboring an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 individuals. The Congo Basin region also has the most diverse ape population in the world. Yet these primates face significant threats from bushmeat hunting, habitat loss due to mining and deforestation, and civil conflict.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
Read MoreAstrolight’s Lithuanian-built laser communications technology reaches space for the first time
Lithuanian space and defence technology company Astrolight has launched its ATLAS-1 laser communication devices into orbit, in what the company says is the first Lithuanian laser communications system to reach space.
The devices were launched on 30 March 2026 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket during SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission in California. According to Astrolight, the ATLAS-1 units will be used in three separate customer missions led by a French deep-tech company, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
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Originally published on 7 Apr
Read MoreTilde to develop an AI Assistant for Earth Observation platform
Tilde has been selected to develop the project “AI Assistant for Data Discovery on the EO Baltic Platform.” The activity is financed by the European Space Agency and will be implemented by Tilde as the Prime Contractor in close cooperation with Baltic Satellite Service (BSS) as the subcontractor.
Tilde brings proven experience in building AI assistants for the space and Earth Observation sector. This new project builds on that experience and further strengthens the company’s role in applying language AI to complex scientific and geospatial systems.
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Originally published on 18 Mar
Read MoreAnother satellite built by “Kongsberg NanoAvionics” has reached space – to monitor forest health and support the development of green credits
A “Kongsberg NanoAvionics” small satellite, “IHI-SAT2”, designed for global forest monitoring and the advancement of green credit initiatives, has successfully reached Earth’s orbit. The satellite was launched into space on 28 November from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, as part of the SpaceX “Transporter-15” mission. Shortly after separating from the rocket’s second stage, the “NanoAvionics” mission control centre in Vilnius established a stable two-way communication link with “IHI-SAT2”, confirming its successful operation.
The satellite was manufactured on behalf of Japan’s “IHI Corporation” and “IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd.” and is part of the “NeXT FOREST” programme, undertaken by “IHI” in collaboration with “Sumitomo Forestry Company Limited”. Its onboard hyperspectral camera captures imagery across an exceptionally wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing precise identification of plant species, analysis of forest condition changes, and detection of stress or disease indicators. Such data provide invaluable insights for sustainable forestry practices and the development of environmental financial mechanisms.
It is particularly encouraging that “IHI-SAT2” was fully assembled and tested in Lithuania – at the “NanoAvionics” facility in Vilnius, from which the entire mission is also being coordinated. This marks the eleventh satellite launched by the company into space this year. Since commencing operations in 2014, “NanoAvionics” has already deployed more than fifty satellites into orbit, supporting climate monitoring, science, communications, and industrial projects worldwide.
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Originally published on 3 Dec
Read MoreLithuanian Lasers Power Space and Quantum Projects
The first Lithuanian laser in space, contributions to Mars atmosphere missions, and joint projects with the European Space Agency (ESA) in quantum technologies – these are among the achievements of Integrated Optics, a Lithuanian laser company. Its compact lasers have opened doors to space, supported by the Innovation Agency.
Compactness and proven reliability led a University of Vienna mission to choose an Integrated Optics laser.
“When we talk about space technologies, every extra gram of a device significantly increases costs, so extremely efficient and compact solutions are required. The same applies in the field of quantum computing – one of the barriers there is the size of optical instruments. Our laser, which is the smallest on the market, is perfectly suited for quantum computation experiments in space. In the future, if everything goes according to plan, another of our lasers will head to Mars to study its atmosphere using a special LiDAR instrument,” says Evaldas Pabrėža, CEO of Integrated Optics.
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Originally published on 6 Nov
Read MoreLatvia’s space and smart technology potential presented at EXPO Japan
In September, Latvian entrepreneurs and scientists participated in the world’s largest exhibition, EXPO 2025 Osaka, at a business conference organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) entitled “How Innovation in the Aerospace Industry Can Promote Sustainability and Environmental Conservation,” highlighting Latvia’s expertise and innovation potential in the field of space and smart technologies.
The conference took place as part of the Expo 2025 Osaka thematic week “The Future of Earth and Biodiversity,” bringing together experts, industry representatives, academics, and students from Latvia, Japan, and other countries to seek solutions on how sustainable aerospace technologies can help preserve the environment and biodiversity.
The conference was opened by Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže. In her speech, she emphasized: “Latvia’s achievements in innovation, ICT, quantum technology and other new technology fields are recognized worldwide. The geopolitical situation has promoted the development of the domestic security industry, including in the field of drone technology. Latvia also has the advantage of extensive technology testing opportunities – more and more manufacturers from our allied countries are coming to Latvia to test the latest generation of drones. We have also achieved a lot in quantum technologies – we are a “small quantum superpower” whose professors have developed algorithms that account for up to 20% of the world’s quantum algorithms. The minister also pointed out that confirmation of our companies’ achievements is also reflected in investor assessments – the investment climate in Latvia has improved significantly, and half of existing investors plan to continue investing in Latvia in the future.
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Originally published on 29 Sep
Read MoreLithuanian-Built Technology – Light-Speed Secure Communication in Space and on Earth
In recent years, Lithuania has been increasingly establishing itself as a creator of space technologies, and one of the country’s brightest stars is Astrolight. With impressive innovation potential and global ambitions, the company has moved into developing laser communication technologies that could fundamentally change communication between Earth and space. These solutions are also opening new paths in the defense sector, where secure and uninterrupted communication is critically important.
Lithuania’s innovation ecosystem has long since crossed the boundaries of local projects, and support from the European Space Agency (ESA) is opening up more and more opportunities for Lithuanian companies to establish themselves in the international market. In total, Astrolight has already received around 1 million euros in funding from ESA.
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Originally published on 2 Apr
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