NorthStar to Advance Space Domain Awareness Deploying AI at the Edge 

Montreal, Canada – July 6, 2026 – NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. (“NorthStar”), a leader in commercial  Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services, today announced a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), to develop and deploy AI-based space object detection capabilities directly onboard satellites. This initiative advances NorthStar’s efforts to move intelligence from the ground into orbit, and opening a new phase of autonomous awareness, responsiveness, and safety across all orbits. The contract is part of ESA Space Safety’s Competitiveness Segment and was made possible thanks to funding from the CSA and Canada’s unique status as the only non-European cooperating state in ESA.  

The project will focus on developing machine learning capabilities to detect faint space objects, improving the performance of NorthStar’s space-based sensors while minimizing downlink requirements and increasing observation throughput. This initiative reflects NorthStar’s commitment to advanced technologies that enhance the performance, efficiency, and value of its services. 

Satellite operations are becoming highly dynamic, requiring faster access to information to support both safety and security. The growth of in-orbit services, increased maneuverability, and activity across multiple orbital regimes are driving demand for more timely and actionable insights. By deploying AI models at the orbital edge, NorthStar aims to extract critical SSA information at the point of collection, reducing the time between observation and delivery. 

“This project represents an important progression of our space-based monitoring capabilities,” said Stewart Bain, Founder & CEO of NorthStar. “By processing observations directly onboard satellites, we add the ability to better detect, assess, and act in orbit. This will allow us to identify and track more objects, improve responsiveness, and deliver information to customers more quickly. These game-changing capabilities will help governments, satellite operators, and commercial space users better understand and manage activity in orbit.” 

About NorthStar Earth & Space 

NorthStar Earth & Space is the first commercial enterprise to monitor near-Earth orbits from space and continuously scan, detect, and track the behaviour of satellites. Through its Space Information & Intelligence (Si²) platform, NorthStar provides Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services via the fusion of multiple observation sources and a proprietary constellation of space-based electro-optical sensors dedicated to cataloguing and tracking space activity. NorthStar’s precise information services identify and anticipate the position of space objects to enhance spaceflight safety and sustainability. With headquarters in Montreal, Canada, a European headquarters in Luxembourg, and a dedicated U.S. operation in McLean, Virginia, NorthStar addresses the ever-growing challenge of space congestion as a major contribution to empowering humanity to preserve our planet. 

Media Contact 

Prosek Partners 

Pro-NorthStar@Prosek.com