PlanetiQ获得美国空军1500万美元订单
商业卫星运营商PlanetiQ将根据4月16日宣布的1500万美元美国空军战略融资增加（STRATFI）合同，开发并发射配备下一代仪器的航天器，以收集陆地和空间天气数据。PlanetiQ主席兼创始人克里斯·麦考密克表示，这项协议是“美国政府发出的一个重大信号，表明我们的技术非常重要，他们愿意为此投入1500万美元”。
PlanetiQ的下一代卫星除了能够揭示海面风场、海况和土壤湿度外，还将提供关于大气温度、压力和水蒸气的广泛数据。麦考密克指出，交付的数据集将减少延迟，并提高陆地和空间天气预报的准确性。
根据这份为期两年的合同，总部位于科罗拉多州戈尔登的PlanetiQ将开发并发射配备下一代全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）无线电掩星接收器的航天器，以测量穿过地球大气层折射的信号以及从地球表面反射的信号。此外，PlanetiQ还将改进数据同化技术，以集成GNSS极化无线电掩星数据。极化无线电掩星数据有助于改善数值天气模型中降水的特征描述。
PlanetiQ首席执行官伊拉·沙尔夫在一份声明中表示：“这一奖项代表了在向作战人员提供更先进、可操作的天气信息方面迈出的重要一步。”通过在单一平台中结合GNSS无线电掩星、极化无线电掩星和反射测量，“我们正在解锁大气和地球表面的更完整图景。我们很荣幸能与美国空军合作，加速这些能力的提升，并将下一代环境数据带入作战应用。”
Conceptual render of a PlanetiQ satellite capturing data with a Global Navigation Satellite System radio occultation receiver. Credit: PlanetiQ
COLORADO SPRINGS – Commercial satellite operator PlanetiQ will develop and launch spacecraft equipped with next-generation instruments to gather terrestrial and space weather data with a $15 million U.S. Air Force Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract announced April 16.
The STRATFI agreement is “a big indication from the U.S. government that our technology matters and they are willing to put $15 million toward it,” Chris McCormick, PlanetiQ chairman and founder, told SpaceNews.
PlanetiQ’s next-generation satellites will provide extensive data on atmospheric temperature, pressure and water vapor in addition to revealing ocean-surface winds, sea states and soil moisture. The datasets delivered will reduce latency and improve the accuracy of terrestrial and space-weather forecasts, McCormick said.
Under the two-year contract, Golden, Colorado-based PlanetiQ will develop and launch spacecraft equipped with next-generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation receivers to measure signals refracted through Earth’s atmosphere as well as signals reflected off Earth’s surface. In addition, PlanetiQ will refine data-assimilation techniques to integrate GNSS polarimetric radio occultation data. Polarimetric radio occultation data improves the characterization of precipitation in numerical weather models.
“This award represents a major step forward in delivering more advanced, actionable weather information to the warfighter,” PlanetiQ CEO Ira Scharf said in a statement. By combining GNSS radio occultation, polarimetric radio occultation and reflectometry “measurements in a single platform, we are unlocking a more complete picture of the atmosphere and Earth’s surface. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Air Force to accelerate these capabilities and bring next-generation environmental data into operational use.”
Data delivered by PlanetiQ from its spacecraft in orbit “will support multiple applications across the Department of the Air Force, to include artificial intelligence model training, data assimilation and performance evaluation,” according to the news release.
With its current constellation, PlanetiQ also provides data to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Commercial Data Program.
Debra Werner is a correspondent for SpaceNews based in San Francisco.
Debra earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is a recipient...
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