Telespazio signs a contract with ESA for I*STAR, an innovative service to improve access to Earth observation data

The project springs from the ESA InCubed programme, the technology incubator of the agency’s Φlab, dedicated to cutting-edge research and development initiatives.

Through an innovative as-a-service model, I*STAR allows new user families – whether start-ups, new space companies looking for a smart solution, or space institutions and agencies interested in reducing costs and promoting the use of their space infrastructures – to request new acquisitions and data from the Earth observation constellations, simply, efficiently and promptly.

Using deep and machine learning algorithms, I*STAR can model user preferences with regard to satellite platforms, sensors, topics, areas of interest, and types of products, ensuring that even nonspecialist users can make specific acquisition requests from the satellites in orbit, without the direct support of space operations.

In addition to ensuring lower costs and easier access to data, in the event of natural disasters I*STAR can speed up response times and support local authorities and civil protection departments more efficiently and effectively.