PLATERO

Quick facts

Overview

Summary

Mission Capabilities

PLATERO is equipped with an IoT radio and Ubotica’s CogniSAT-XE1 Board, a computing platform that combines Computer Vision (CV) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). These payloads allow for the detection of anomalies that could be environmental hazards. The affected area is photographed by the onboard high-performance multi-spectral camera, the MS100 Simera Camera, and analysed by the onboard AI technology for the identification of potential hazards.

Performance Specifications

PLATERO operates in a sun-synchronous orbit at a 500 km altitude, with an inclination of 97.5° and an orbital period of 94.7 minutes. The onboard multispectral camera has a swath width of 19.4 km and a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 4.75 m.

Space and Hardware Components

PLATERO is a 9 kg 6U CubeSat, and successfully launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 v1.2 (Block 5) in a EXOpod Nova 12U/16U deployer in November 2023.

Overview

The PLATERO satellite is a commercial mission by Open Cosmos that integrates Earth Observation (EO), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). PLATERO facilitates nanosatellite internet connectivity and the exchange of data with terrestrial and spaceborne devices and systems. The Junta de Andalucia commissioned the mission through AGAPA (Andalusian Agricultural and Fisheries Management Agency), and the AI integration through Ubotica.

The mission aims to track biodiversity, desertification, emergencies, such as wildfires and floods, and the effects of farming, to inform future environmental and sustainable policies. The onboard IoT sensor network works to detect anomalies that could constitute environmental hazards. Upon detection, the AI-powered PLATERO satellite orients itself to capture high-resolution imagery of the affected area with its onboard multi-spectral camera. These images are analysed by the onboard AI, which is trained in image recognition and pattern analysis to allow for the immediate identification of hazards. Any identified hazards are communicated to the ground station and the relevant authorities alerted, with timely imagery and AI analysis of potential hazards allowing a rapid response. 1) 2) 3)

PLATERO has joined various other satellites, such asMANTIS, as a part of the OpenConstellation, a global, shared EO satellite infrastructure built and managed by Open Cosmos. The data collected from OpenConstellation satellites is publicly accessible to businesses and organisations, as well as regional and national governments so it can be utilised to address global challenges. 4)

Spacecraft

PLATERO is a 6U CubeSat with a mass of 9kg. It has two deployable solar panels which can raise up to 75 W in optimal conditions. 2)

Launch

PLATERO was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 v1.2 (Block 5) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, United States on November 11th, 2023. 1) 4) 5)

Orbit

PLATERO operates in a sun-synchronous orbit at a 500 km altitude, with an inclination of 97.5° and an orbital period of 94.7 minutes.

Mission Status

•         November 21, 2023: The first first images from the PLATERO satellite were successfully relayed to Junta de Andalucía. 3)
•         November 11, 2023: PLATERO's first telemetry points were received 36 seconds after the satellite's activation. 3)
•         November 11, 2023: The PLATERO nanosatellite successfully launched onboard a SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States 1)

Sensor Complement

MS100 Simera Camera

MS100 is a multispectral imager onboard PLATERO that features IoT technology, and provides continuous line-scan imaging across seven spectral bands, has a swath width of 500 km and a resolution of 4096 pixels. 2) 6)

CogniSAT-XE1

The CogniSAT-XE1 of Ubotica is an AI payload coprocessor onboard PLATERO. The processor integrates Computer Vision (CV) and AI in a platform suitable to a range of SmallSat and CubeSat missions. It also supports Neural Network framework integration and has a high data rate and efficiency, all within a low power envelope. 7)

Ground Segment

The PLATERO satellite has two dual-patch S-Band antennas that receive Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) data via the Ground Station Provider and downlink payload data. 2)

References  

1) Nolan B, "The PLATERO Mission by Open Cosmos, powered with SPACE:AI from Ubotica, to intelligently track biodiversity, desertification, emergencies", Ubotica Technologies, 2023, URL: https://ubotica.com/the-platero-mission-by-open-cosmos-powered-with-spaceai-from-ubotica-to-intelligently-track-biodiversity-desertification-emergencies/

2) "PLATERO," Open Cosmos, URL: https://www.open-cosmos.com/launches/platero

3) Kulu E, "PLATERO Satellite," Nanosats Database, URL: https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/platero.html

4) SatNews, "Open Cosmos MANTIS + PLATERO satellites reach orbit with OpenConstellation launch", SatNews URL: https://news.satnews.com/2023/11/13/open-cosmos-mantis-platero-satellites-reach-orbit-with-openconstellation-launch/

5) Ford D, "PLATERO," In-The-Sky.org, URL: https://in-the-sky.org//spacecraft.php?id=58262

6) "MultiScape100 CIS Product" SIMERA Sense, URL: https://www.simera-sense.com/products/multiscape100-cis/

7) "Ubotica CogniSAT-XE1," Ubotica Technologies URL: https://ubotica.com/ubotica-cognisat-xe1/