Planetek Italia is proud to announce the successful deployment of AIX-1p “Caution: Edge Ahead”, the first mission of the AIX satellite series, which will set the path for the ambitious programme of bringing a new concept of cognitive cloud computing in space.
AIX-1p lifted off on 14 January 2025, at 8:09 p.m. (GMT+1) aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from the Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and was successfully deployed almost an hour after launch into a 520km Sun-Synchronous Orbit.
AIX-1p is the first of a series of three satellites (AIX-1p, AIX-1, AIX-1 +) that are planned for launch in 2025 and developed by Planetek Italia in cooperation with its partners D-Orbit and AIKO.
"The launch of AIX-1p, aptly named 'Caution: Edge Ahead,' represents the most advanced interpretation of Digital Transformation in Earth Observation, setting a new standard for innovation and accessibility in space technology." , Giovanni Sylos Labini, CEO, Planetek Italia declared "Caution: Edge Ahead' is more than a mission; it is the cornerstone of our vision for a Digital EO constellation. This launch lays the foundation for a network of smart satellites redefining real-time EO data processing and insight delivery from space."
AI-eXpress is a project co-funded by the European Space Agency's InCubed, an Earth Observation Programme managed by ESA Φ-lab, that uses advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain in Space to enhance satellite capabilities in terms of reactivity, responsiveness, and low-latency information delivery. AIX provides a hybrid edge/cloud ecosystem on a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) platform equipped with Earth Observation (EO) payloads, deployable cubesats, and a software framework that autonomously manages sensors and onboard resources.
"AIX is more than just a satellite; it's a complete, integrated ecosystem, " says Giuseppe Borghi, Head of the ESA Φ-lab division. “From advanced imaging to onboard AI processing and seamless data delivery, ESA has supported the development of a truly end-to-end system that delivers insights faster and more efficiently than any traditional Earth Observation approach. This marks a fundamental change in how we access and utilise space-based information".
AIX: a new era of opportunities in Earth Observation
The Space mission scenario is rapidly evolving and raising the need for new operational concepts that must be able to implement novel technologies and approaches to mission design that comply with the shortening of the development cycles. AIX answers these needs thanks to the configurable set of space components it makes available as-a-service, such as the advanced imaging of the dual-head camera, the onboard Artificial Intelligence of the high-performance computing platform, and the software services secured by Blockchain technologies.
Thanks to its innovative satellite-as-a-service design, the platform provides on-demand, in-orbit data processing resources to turn raw data into actionable knowledge, thus enabling customised customer-driven capabilities, such as need-focused data gathering, while reducing costs and barriers to access space. In this regard, users can ask to exploit the desired custom set of components, configuring their own acquisition/processing workflow and their own system’s configuration. AIX also supports AI-experienced users in testing their algorithms and techniques in a real Earth Observation case, with resources and payloads available on-demand and developers implementing and re-using onboard software.
The first mission, named Caution: Edge Ahead (AIX-1p), is designed to test and validate the core building blocks of fundamental software services (data processing and execution) directly in space. These functionalities form the backbone of the "satellite-as-a-service" model. AIX-1p is the first step toward creating a space "App Store," offering a more straightforward and innovative way to access space resources.
Following the AIX-1p launch, two more missions are planned: AIX-1 in June 2025 and AIX-1+ in October 2025. Each mission will progressively contribute to deploying and validating AIX components and functionalities.
The AIX team
AIX is implemented by Planetek Italia, in a partnership with D-Orbit and AIKO, and it will complement and add value to the companies’ existing services/products.
AIX-based services will be tested and deployed using D-Orbit's ION platform and space cloud infrastructure, AIKO's orbital_OLIVER autonomy framework and AI applications, and Planetek’s SPACEDGE™ Earth Observation services for FutureEO.
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Links
- https://incubed.esa.int/portfolio/aix
- https://www.planetek.it/eng/aiexpress
- https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthObservation/AIX_FactSheet_250110.pdf
About Planetek Italia
Planetek Italia is a Benefit Company specialising in Geoinformatics, Space solutions, and Earth Observation. Since 1994, we simplify the complexity of space. From upstream to downstream, we design and develop solutions that exploit the value of geospatial data to help users understand the world better and act sustainably. https://www.planetek.it/
Media Contact
Antonio Buonavoglia, +39 0809644200 buonavoglia@planetek.it