Australian startup Spiral Blue has announced that four of their SE-1 edge computers have been delivered to orbit on the SpaceX Transporter-10 mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Two computers are launching as part of customer missions, with the other two being operated by the company, bringing the total number of Spiral Blue computers in orbit to 8.
The two Spiral Blue launches are part of Project Rainbow Python - the first Australian hyperspectral mission. These will enable an expansion of the YCIS (Your Code In Space) program launched by the company in 2023, that allows users to test drive SB hardware in orbit.
For the customer missions, one SE-1 is a component of Esper Satellites’ hyperspectral imager, exploring chemical compositions with HSI technology.
The second SE-1 is providing edge computing capabilities for a customer’s satellite.
“The launch of our first customer hardware is such a significant milestone for Spiral Blue, it really can't be understated. Our customers are using our hardware to carry out onboard processing and to control imaging hardware. “, said James Buttenshaw, Co-Founder.
“The hardware launched by Spiral Blue will, among other things, be utilised to offer our YCIS service once more, helping future customers test drive our hardware in orbit. We anticipate being able to commence operations in around one month's time. Looking to the future, Spiral Blue has various other customer and test missions planned this year, with new ones coming up regularly.”
The company states that 2024 will be a busy year for Spiral Blue, with additional SE-1 computers scheduled to launch later in the year, as well as the release of the next generation space edge computer by Q3. The SE-2, which is based on the Orin NX, will boast greater processing power as an additional product offering alongside the SE-1.