Canada Government to Fuel Big Data Analytics on Space Debris, Backs a Proposed New Satellite System

The contracting arm of the Canadian government is sponsoring a proposed new satellite system to provide commercially available data about the Earth and its orbit amid mounting concerns about the risks posed by space debris, by utilizing big data analytics.

Proposed by Canadian startup NorthStar Earth and Space, the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) support will enable the startup to negotiate initial service agreements with the United States, Britain, and other countries. The proposed new satellite system's deal with CCC will be signed on Monday at the Paris Airshow.

NorthStar CEO Stewart Bain allude strong international interest in the project given an escalating level of activity in space, and rising concerns about the perils posed to satellites by some 600,000 projected pieces of debris floating in the Earth's orbit.

Already accumulate such data by the US and other governments, the demand for near real-time information that is commercially available is mounting rapidly. And experts estimating a new space economy worth over $1 trillion a year.  In a statement, Bain says, "This agreement puts us in a strong position to work with the United States, the U.K., and other countries to deliver our services." He further noted that the Canadian government and Quebec had each already invested $13 million to date.

Investors for New Satellite System

For this proposed project, the private backers are including Telesystem Space Inc. of Montreal, the majority shareholder, and the Space Alliance of Europe, formed by Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, a joint partnership formed by France's Thales and Italy's Leonardo.

New Assemblage of Small Satellites

The proposed satellite system calls for the 2021 launch of a new assemblage of small satellites that will leverage a number of hyperspectral, infrared and optical sensors to incessantly supervise and assess the Earth's ecosystems and orbit.

The system would also utilize big data analytics and AI to find the meaning of the vast amount of data and precisely predict potential collisions with debris and other objects in space, according to the company. Besides, it assists to authenticate and advance the performance of existing surveillance systems.

Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, who will be present at this week's Paris Airshow, said last week that he was fostering all space-faring nations to work together on common issues like space debris that could stifle the commercialization of space. According to Wilbur, "Partnerships are important in a world where there are alternative views about the future of space."

Recent Events

Back in 2007, China conducted Anti-satellite tests, and most recently, India has raised questioned, in March, about the long-term sustainability of operations in space, which is indispensable to a wide array of activities, such as banking and GPS services.

Evolved as a Global Environmental Information Platform

NorthStar, based on a satellite constellation with an exclusive and influential sensor array, is the first system to image, digitize and evaluate all matter on the surface of the Earth multiple times each day. Seated in Montréal, Quebec, Canada, the company will offer Earth Observation and Space Object Tracking information products at a level of accuracy, fertility and timeliness never before available.

NorthStar is the first commercial system to integrate Hyperspectral and Infrared sensors to observe Earth, utilizing reflected sunlight to image and gain a huge amount of information about any object on the planet.