Weekly GEOINT Community News

NGA Posts RFI for Mapping Platform; Harris Corp to Provide NOAA Airborne Radars; Hera Systems Reveals 2016 Satellite Constellation Plans

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NGA Posts RFI for Mapping Platform

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) published a request for information for a configurable mapping platform developers can use to deploy modern, customizable, and responsive maps on both mobile and desktop clients, reports GCN. The mapping platform would help developers easily build and share customized maps and applications, visualize large geospatial data sets, and perform complex graphic information system analysis.

Harris Corp to Provide NOAA Airborne Radars

According to Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, Harris Corp.’s subsidiary EDO Corp. will provide AN/AP-11 airborne multi-mode radars to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The radars will enhance severe weather tracking and other environmental monitoring capabilities. The article said the technology would expand NOAA’s current hurricane surveillance capabilities to include iceberg monitoring, marine mammal detection, oil spills, debris tracking, and oceanic current monitoring. The radars are expected to be delivered in June 2017.

Hera Systems Reveals 2016 Satellite Constellation Plans

Hera Systems revealed plans to launch its first satellites to capture high-resolution earth images and video in near-real time. According to the press release, Hera Systems will be able to collect fresh, intelligent, one-meter and high-resolution imagery and video of any location on the globe. It also plans to offer its imagery products with analytics and derived information, easily accessible on-demand via mobile applications. The company secured its initial round of investment funding and plans to begin launches in October 2016.

Airbus Defence and Space Signs ESA Contract

Under a European Space Agency (ESA) contract, Airbus Defence and Space will continue to develop Eurostar Neo, its new generation of platforms for geostationary telecommunication satellites. The new Eurostar Neo range will include a range of innovations, such as configuration solutions maximizing payload capacity and reducing production time; a choice of propulsion modes with optimized architecture for all-electric, all-chemical, and hybrid versions; and efficient power and thermal control solutions for all types of missions.

NASA Selects Quantum Platform

Quantum Corp.’s StorNext scale-out storage platform will serve as the foundation for NASA’s new content management & storage system at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. StorNext is optimized for the most demanding workflows, providing a combination of fast streaming file system performance and long-term data management for low cost of ownership.

NASA to Launch Satellite Network to Detect Wildfires

Popular Science reports NASA plans to launch a new satellite network to make forecasting and fighting wildfires easier. Named FireSat, the network will contain 200 satellites equipped with temperature sensors encircling the globe. The sensors will be able to detect fires 35-50 feet wide within 15 minutes of their start. NASA hopes to have the network up and running by June 2018.

U.S. & Mexico to Share Satellite Data

The United States and Mexico recently signed a deal for Mexico to capture and process land-surface imagery and data directly from a U.S.-operated satellite. According to U.S. News & World Report, Mexico will be able to obtain raw information from the Landsat 8 satellite immediately. Mexico joins about a half dozen other countries already downloading data directly from U.S. satellites.

Peer Intel

According to Space News, Chirag Parikh, director of space policy at the White House National Security Council, announced during USGIF’s Small Satellite Workshop Nov. 16 that he will be taking a leadership position with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Parikh will soon lead NGA’s Source Strategy Office, which plans and directs the agency’s utilization of data from various available sensors and platforms.

Dewberry announced the promotion of Keith Patterson to associate at the firm’s Tampa, Fla., office, reports Directions Magazine. Patterson has more than 38 years of experience in photo interpretation, photogrammetry, environmental fieldwork, imagery and LiDAR-based remote sensing, surveying, and GIS.

Photo Credit: Hera Systems

Posted in: Monday News Kickoffs   Tagged in: NASA, NGA, NOAA, Weather

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