EarthDaily, a Canadian geospatial solutions company, has made a significant public debut by releasing the first processed images from its EDC-01 satellite. These images, captured by an advanced multispectral imaging system developed by ABB, showcase high-precision details of Earth's surface, including a view of the Perth metropolitan area with features like the Indian Ocean coastline and Swan River estuary.
Innovative Imaging System Design
The payload onboard the satellite represents a breakthrough in space technology, with ABB's system designed to process over 20 billion pixels per second, making it one of the most powerful cameras ever deployed in orbit. This capability enables the detection of daily changes across the planet, providing unprecedented spatial resolution for Earth observation.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The imaging system features a compact telescope design that integrates 16 multispectral imagers on a single spacecraft bus. This setup includes 12 visible and near infrared imagers (VNIR), two short wave infrared imagers (SWIR), and two thermal infrared imagers (LWIR), offering broad spectral coverage. Early data confirms that the VNIR telescopes operate near the diffraction limit, a performance milestone in space imaging, thanks to thermally resilient designs and micron-level alignment tolerances.
Additionally, a stray-light baffle engineered to reject unwanted sunlight and moonlight ensures high contrast is maintained at all times. This scalable architecture allows for future missions with higher ground resolution, enhancing the system's long-term utility.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Plans
In 2022, ABB was awarded a contract to develop and manufacture these imaging systems in collaboration with Xiphos Systems Corporation for payload central processing and Loft Orbital for bus repurposing. Over 130 ABB engineering experts have contributed to the project, which supports EarthDaily's constellation of 10 satellites.
Frederic Grandmont from ABB's Measurement & Analytics division emphasized the importance of sensor reproducibility, stating, "Sensor to sensor reproducibility is key when operating a 160-camera constellation working as one." Don Osborne, CEO of EarthDaily, added, "This moment validates years of shared vision and disciplined engineering between EarthDaily and ABB."
With six additional satellites set to launch in May and further expansion planned for later this year, the EarthDaily Constellation is on track to enter commercial operations by summer 2026. Once fully deployed, it will continuously capture images of Earth's land masses and maritime areas, delivering daily updates to customers and transforming the understanding of natural and human-caused changes on the planet.
