The Space Edge One computer (SE-1), developed by Australian startup Spiral Blue, launched as a hosted payload aboard a Satellogic NewSat spacecraft on the Transporter-6 rideshare mission, which left Earth aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Developed through Satellogic’s Hosted Payload Program, this joint mission will complete
Spiral Blue’s flight testing program for its latest generation Space Edge Computing
technology. The SE-1 computer will interface with the satellite’s high-resolution imaging
system, allowing Spiral Blue to begin testing key onboard image processing applications,
such as cloud detection, ship detection, cropping, and compression.
The latest Space Edge Computer uses the NVIDIA Xavier NX chip, and possesses far
greater onboard processing power, storage, thermal control, faster interfacing, and other
improvements than its predecessor, Space Edge Zero.
The goal is to integrate these capabilities with Spiral Blue’s Space Edge Services platform,
Cobalt, enabling customers to task the satellite to capture images and carry out onboard
processing depending on their needs.
This is the fourth Spiral Blue Space Edge Computer, and first SE-1 to launch. Spiral Blue
has launched three Space Edge Zero prototypes thus far.
“This launch is a key milestone for us as we work toward providing easier access to Earth
observation data and insights,” said Spiral Blue CEO, Taofiq Huq, “This will be our first
operational mission, and we’re incredibly excited to start working with our customers for this
mission.”
“Our Hosted Payload Program offers an affordable, low-risk option to test proprietary and
experimental payloads in orbit,” said Thomas VanMatre, Vice President of Global Business
Development at Satellogic. “We’re excited to make the opportunity for rapid testing and
accelerated technology development available to customers.”