Stellenbosch-based company Dragonfly Aerospace, one of the leading space-industry companies in SA, recently completed and launched an Earth Observation satellite named EOS SAT-1.
This, the first imaging satellite to be built by Dragonfly Aerospace, lifted off from SpaceX’s launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Tuesday 3 January as part of the Transporter-6 mission.
EOS SAT-1 is the first of a seven-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit for customer EOSDA (EOS Data Analytics). The remaining six satellites of the constellation will be deployed over the next three years.
agriculture, forestry data
“EOS SAT is the world’s first agriculture-focused satellite constellation providing the agriculture and forestry industry with high-quality data to support efficient and sustainable practices,” says Rebecca Spencer, communications manager for Dragonfly Aerospace.
She said images obtained from Dragonfly’s EOS SAT-1 will deliver valuable information for harvest monitoring, application mapping, seasonal planning and assessments that analyse information such as soil moisture, yield prediction and biomass levels.
“This data will support growers with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and help them develop sustainable agricultural methods. Such information will have important environmental benefits for the planet and help prevent natural habitats from being diminished for crop growth and maintain biodiversity.”
Equipped with two DragonEye electro-optical imagers, EOS SAT-1 will provide 44 km swath panchromatic and multispectral imagery across 11 spectral bands at close to 1m resolution, making it one of the most capable imaging satellites in LEO (low earth orbit).
testimony to sa efficiency
About the successful launch of the satellite, an elated Bryan Dean, CEO and co-founder of Dragonfly Aerospace, shared: “The experience of the launch was a breath-taking one. Initially as the rocket fired, I was very excited. But soon, the excitement turned into anxiety as it soared higher into the sky, and I was holding my breath hoping that it kept going. As the satellite reached orbit, we took a sigh of relief and rejoiced with a wave of celebration. However, we were still at the edge of our seats waiting anxiously for the satellite to separate. As our satellite was the last to separate, my anxiety lasted for a long time. Finally, as it separated it was a beautiful and memorable sight for me and my team members. It was an emotional moment for everyone as we pursued this goal from the inception of our company.
“We are extremely delighted to be a part of this journey and recognise the significance it has in the aerospace industry. It is always expected of us to prove our hardware capabilities in space.
“While we previously did it with our cameras, the satellite is a testimony of our efficiency in providing full imaging systems.
“I hope that this journey becomes a catalyst for innovation in South African aerospace engineering and paves the way for many more technological advancements. It is an extremely proud moment for me and the whole team of Dragonfly”.
key player in just 3 years
The project was started in 2020 and took the team roughly three years to complete. Says Spencer: “Although Dragonfly Aerospace is only 3 years old, the team comes with a few decades of experience through the development of the space industry in South Africa and Ukraine.
“This heritage is testament to the success achieved with this satellite and is of the utmost importance to the future growth of Dragonfly Aerospace. Heritage in space is one of the most key requirements by a company to attract new business.
“The team worked so hard to achieve this and therefore this success will only motivate Dragonfly to achieve greater success for the future.”
Dean said he hoped this journey becomes a catalyst for innovation in South African aerospace engineering and paves the way for many more technological advancements.
“It is an extremely proud moment for me and the whole team of Dragonfly. We are working on many new initiatives and will share these with the market as they unfold.”
Dragonfly Aerospace is a leading provider of Earth-observation optical payloads and satellite platforms. It was founded in 2019 by a group of experienced aerospace engineers led by Dean, and is based in Stellenbosch.
It has a state-of-the-art 3 000m² design and manufacturing facility and is a proven global provider of space technology hardware.
Dragonfly’s extensive customer base includes EOS Data Analytics, NanoAvionics, Spire, UKRI, ZfT, EnduroSat, Loft Orbital, and Pixxel.
The company’s highly experienced team has been at the forefront of South Africa’s uniquely successful aerospace industry since the launch of the country’s first earth-observation satellite.
