Open Cosmos Launches Its Fourth Earth Observation Satellite; ALISIO-1 to Monitor Volcanic Activity and Wildfires in the Canary Islands

In the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northwestern Africa lies a Spanish autonomous community known for being an active volcanic archipelago. The Canary Islands are home to La Palma and other volcanoes that have shown activity in recent years. It also experienced wildfires in recent months after being struck by heatwaves.

In a remarkable step to fight climate change, a UK-based company has deployed a satellite to monitor the volcanic and wildfire activities in the islands.

Breakthrough in Environmental Monitoring

On December 13, UK startup Open Cosmos successfully launched its fourth satellite this year. The so-called ALISIO-1 (Advanced Land-Imaging Satellite for Infrared Observations) was developed as part of the ESA PIONEER Programme, which aims to transform Earth monitoring capabilities and optical communications from space.

ALISIO-1 is a small 6U satellite developed for the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands. The satellite took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California onboard SpaceX's Falcon 9. It is now in its final orbit, establishing its first contact with the ground.

The satellite will offer precise observations of the Canary Islands, which are important in oil spill detection, volcano and wildlife monitoring, and desertification control. Its primary payload is DRAGO-2, a compact uncooled camera that operates in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range to provide an invisible viewpoint to the human eye.

ALISIO-1 also carries an optical communications terminal for space-Earth communications, a technology that uses laser beams to transmit data through the vacuum of space. Open Cosmos offers two advantages compared to conventional radio-frequency methods: increased security and enhanced data transfer.

Leveraging Satellite Technology

Open Cosmos commits to democratizing access to critical space data while maintaining high levels of governance and security. The company also uses DataCosmos, a cloud-based data and insights platform, to transform satellite imagery into actionable intelligence. This enables organizations and businesses to access and leverage satellite data to develop effective solutions to environmental challenges.

As part of its OpenConstellation project, Open Cosmos has previously launched its PLATERO and MANTIS satellites. PLATERO was designed to monitor and analyze various aspects of the environment, including biodiversity, flooding, and the impacts of farming practices.

Meanwhile, MANTIS was developed with an innovative multispectral, high-resolution optical payload for Earth observation and a secondary payload that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence. MANTIS will address the problems in accessibility and periodicity in the energy and mining industry. It will also be used for other purposes like biodiversity conservation and climate emergency monitoring.

According to Open Cosmos Vice President for Growth Florian Deconinck, the company has been able to digitalize many aspects of the mission lifecycle process, from design to test recording to operations. This capability has been the key booster in its goal to deliver space missions faster, more reliably, and more affordable.

Open Cosmos plans to develop a satellite for the Atlantic Constellation project to foster its space ambition further. It has raised 50 million euros, indicating robust financial growth and confidence in its endeavors.