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In early 2025, Luxembourg-based startup Mission Space, originally from Israel, is set to make a major step forward with the launch of the first commercial payload focused on space weather monitoring. This launch will be the beginning of an ambitious satellite constellation designed to deliver real-time, high-resolution data on space weather phenomena, ultimately improving the precision of locali by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Sep 16, 2024
In early 2025, Luxembourg-based startup Mission Space, originally from Israel, is set to make a major step forward with the launch of the first commercial payload focused on space weather monitoring. This launch will be the beginning of an ambitious satellite constellation designed to deliver real-time, high-resolution data on space weather phenomena, ultimately improving the precision of localized forecasting.
Space weather is often underappreciated but presents a significant risk to the technologies we rely on every day, including satellites, GPS systems, power grids, and financial networks. Severe geomagnetic storms, in particular, have the capacity to cause global damage, with potential economic losses estimated at up to $42 billion per day.
Mission Space's proprietary sensor, Zohar, is the key technology behind this mission. Developed in-house, the Zohar sensor combines a spectrometer and a Cherenkov detector, capable of performing as many as 1,000 measurements per second. This advanced technology will collect essential data on charged particles, geomagnetic conditions, and other variables crucial to space weather monitoring.
The upcoming launch is the first of 24 planned payloads in the Mission Space constellation, which is projected to be fully operational by 2027. Once completed, the constellation will transform space storm forecasting by using machine learning and continuous data streams from its network. Mission Space offers customized mitigation insights for industries, providing forecasts up to 96 hours in advance to help safeguard against the severe effects of space weather.
DPhi Space, a vital partner in this project, is responsible for payload integration and launch. This collaboration will help space and ground-based industries better assess threats and minimize the impact of space weather events. For example, airlines will be able to plan safer flight routes to protect passengers and crew from radiation, while the public will benefit from fewer disruptions to communications and electronic systems, ensuring continued stability in everyday life.
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