Media

Why tracking space junk is big business

This article originally appeared on Sept 29, 2019 at RFI online.

Tracking space junk whizzing around the Earth may be the next frontier for big business amid plans by a Canadian start-up to put a sophisticated monitoring system into orbit by 2021. Using a network of 40 satellites equipped with high-tech sensors, NorthStar Earth and Space hopes to respond to growing demand by both companies and governments for real-time data that can predict collisions in space.

Canadian company NorthStar wants to track space debris with a constellation of 40 satellites.

This article originally appeared on Sept 16, 2019 at MIT Technology Review online.

NorthStar Earth & Space thinks it might have a remedy. The Canadian space company is developing a constellation of 40 satellites that will work to monitor and track space debris, with commercial service starting in 2021. NorthStar will track the debris with a combination of hyperspectral, infrared, and optical sensors. Its software analyzes that data they produce and creates forecasts to predict potential collisions.

CIX Canadian Innovation Exchange names NorthStar Earth & Space as one of Canada’s top 20 innovative technology companies.

This year’s CIX Top 20 was chosen from over 400 Canadian companies based on a number of key factors including product/service offering, depth of management, market opportunity and business model.

CIX is a ‘must attend’ technology innovation destination where investors, innovative companies, entrepreneurs and facilitators converge to drive economic growth and accelerate the development and implementation of new ideas.

NorthStar Signs Agreement with CCC to Facilitate International Trade

This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on June 17,, 2019.

NorthStar Earth and Space has signed an Advisory Services Agreement (“Agreement”) with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (“CCC”) to enable CCC to provide targeted assistance to NorthStar in its early engagements with prospective international government buyers. Working together, NorthStar and CCC will explore opportunities to familiarize international governments with NorthStar’s proposed Earth Observation and Space Situational Awareness information services, and with CCC’s unique government-to-government contracting services.

The trash in outer space makes way for new kind of map

This article originally appeared on June 12, 2019 at Business Insider India online.

The ability to maneuver a satellite in space comes from what is around it and its precise location. Companies don’t want to be warned a thousand times a day, according to NorthStar Earth & Space CEO Stewart Bain, which is why accurate information is important to differentiate between an actual collision and one that ‘might’ happen.

Canada backs startup to boost data on space debris

This article was circulated by Reuters international news on June 16, 2019.

The Canadian government’s contracting arm is backing a proposed new satellite system, by NorthStar Earth & Space, that will use big data analytics to provide commercially available data about the Earth and its orbit amid growing concerns about the risks posed by space debris. According to NorthStar Earth & Space CEO Stewart Bain, support from the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) will allow Canadian startup NorthStar Earth and Space to negotiate initial service agreements with the United States, Britain and other countries.

ExoAnalytic Solutions and NorthStar Earth & Space join forces to combat growing space debris threat, protect satellites in orbit

This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on April 1, 2019.

NorthStar Earth & Space and ExoAnalytic Solutions will collaborate on the development of new commercial services to protect satellites and other high-value space assets from potentially catastrophic collisions with space debris and other orbiting objects. The comprehensive global telescope network of ExoAnalytic Solutions and the sensors deployed on NorthStar’s satellite constellation, will combine to enable space situational awareness information of unique dimension, precision and timeliness.

Op-ed | Is hyperspectral the next Earth observation frontier?

This article originally appeared in the March 30, 2019 issue of Space News magazine.

Most hyperspectral missions have a ground resolution of greater than 20 meters, which is less applicable for commercial use; their focus is likely more geared to R&D and scientific usage. There are, however, several commercial solutions gaining some traction. Montreal-based NorthStar Earth & Space plans a 40-satellite constellation to offer daily revisit with an expected ground resolution of better than 10 meters.

NorthStar Earth & Space partners with SpecTIR to deliver complete hyperspectral image services

This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on January 31, 2019.

According to Stewart Bain, CEO of NorthStar Earth & Space, “This partnership cements an essential cornerstone of NorthStar’s services by establishing complete and persistent coverage of the Earth’s surface using a combination of space-based and airborne hyperspectral sensors. We are proud to continue this important work to deliver critical information on the world’s environment with our colleagues at SpecTIR.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks about NorthStar

This video was released by NorthStar Earth & Space on November 22, 2018.

According to Prime Minister Trudeau, speaking in the House of Commons, Canada’s Parliament, the Canadian government is proud to announce C$13 million in funding for NorthStar Earth & Space, an innovative Canadian start-up. The funds will enable NorthStar to revolutionize how we see the world.

LEO start-up raises $39.5 million for constellation to watch Earth and space

This article originally appeared in the November 16, 2018 issue of Space News magazine.

NorthStar Earth and Space announced US $39.5 million in funding for the NorthStar, the world’s first comprehensive Earth and Space information services platform. Strategic partners include the governments of Canada and Quebec, each with an investment of US $9.7 million; Telesystem Space; and the Space Alliance, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), a partnership between European aerospace leaders Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio.

NorthStar Earth and Space Inc. announces partnerships, $52 million in additional financing for global environment information platform

This announcement from NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. was released on November 15, 2018.

“Our goal is to empower humanity to preserve our planet,” said NorthStar Earth & Space CEO Stewart Bain. “Information provided by NorthStar will enable citizens, industry and governments to measure and manage our impact on the natural resources of Earth, creating a more sustainable world for now and for future generations. As a Canadian enterprise along with Telesystem Space, we welcome the participation of the governments of Canada and Quebec, and the Space Alliance, all critical to the success of our mission”.

Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space announce an investment in NorthStar Earth & Space Inc.

This announcement from Thales Alenia Space was released on November 15, 2018.

“NorthStar, with the technological, industrial and commercial support of the Space Alliance, will be able to offer both Space Situational Awareness and Earth Observation services by embarking on its satellite constellation Hyperspectral and Infrared Sensors observing Earth, and Optical sensors directed to near space”, jointly declared Luigi Pasquali, CEO of Telespazio, and Jean Loïc Galle, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. They added, “This investment in NorthStar is strategically in line with Space Alliance’s global offer and we are convinced this solution will bring benefit to our customers and their priority needs”.

Government of Canada invests in innovative satellite technology start-up

This announcement from the Federal Government of Canada, Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) was released on November 15, 2018

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced an investment of $13 million in NorthStar Earth and Space Inc, for the NorthStar project. The funding is dedicated to NorthStar’s goal of empowering humanity to preserve our planet. On Earth, the information delivery capabilities of NorthStar will improve the forecasting and tracking of events such as forest fires, rising sea levels and oil spills. In Space, NorthStar will serve the global satellite community by accurately tracking space debris, and monitoring continuously for collision threats.