SA firm unveils pioneering microsatellite

South African aerospace group Space Commercial Service Holdings (SCSH) has launched a self-developed microsatellite that uses an advanced remote sensing system to break up images in different spectral bands and unveil the earth’s surface in greater detail. The export product, which was unveiled at the sixty-fifth International Astronautical Congress, in Toronto, Canada, last week, was based on hyperspectral imaging that could be used to monitor agricultural crops for food security; observe forest canopies to enable early warnings for pest control; study soils and vegetation restoration following mining operations; and monitor aquatic ecosystems for future water resources.