Leap-1 Mission:
A budding space tech startup Dhruva Space from India, is set to launch its first commercial satellite mission called LEAP-1.
- Leap-1 Mission is Dhruva Space’s first commercial satellite mission, which is carrying payloads for AI and Earth observation.
- It utilises Dhruva Space’s indigenously developed P-30 satellite platform which was successfully space-qualified during the LEAP-TD mission on ISRO’s PSLV-C58 in January 2024.
- It is developed by Dhruva Space and Australia-based Akula Tech and Esper Satellites.
- The mission carries two distinct payloads:
- Nexus-01: It features an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) module.
- The AI module promises unprecedented on-orbit intelligence with onboard data processing and AI/ML model re-training capabilities for rapid, near-real-time insights.
- AI flexibly supports applications such as fire detection and spectral analysis, continuously improving via live sensor data retraining.
- Esper Satellites’ OTR-2 mission is equipped with a cutting-edge hyperspectral imager.
- This hyperspectral imager delivers spectrally rich Earth observation data through their EarthTones API, setting a new standard in remote sensing technology.
- This payload fusion enhances capabilities across applications including defense, disaster response, agriculture, mining, and environmental monitoring.
