The UK has a strong reputation in EO, Bright Ascension contributes to this with spacecraft software deployed on 50+ satellites – read more in our Member’s Spotlight
Satellites are vital in the fight against climate change, offering an unparalleled view of our planet’s shifting landscapes, oceans and atmosphere. From tracking polar ice melt to monitoring greenhouse gases, Earth Observation (EO) missions provide the insights needed to guide adaptation and resilience efforts worldwide.
Application: Tackling the climate challenge
Climate change is a complex, global problem that requires continuous, high-quality data to understand and address. Satellites provide this information daily, monitoring ecosystems, weather patterns, natural resources, and human activity across every continent.
One example is SeaHawk-1, a 3U CubeSat launched on December 3rd, 2018, equipped with the HawkEye Ocean Color Imager. Designed to observe changes in ocean surface colour, HawkEye captured high-resolution imagery that supported research into marine ecosystems, ocean health, and the composition of the ocean’s surface. SeaHawk completed its mission by October 27th, 2023, providing open-access data that advanced global understanding of coastal and open-ocean environments.
SeaHawk was built with Bright Ascension’s flight software development kit, accelerating mission development and integration, and took full advantage of the benefits offered by the UK company’s mission control software to manage operations and streamline data delivery.
UK expertise: in Earth Observation
The UK has established a strong reputation in EO, combining research, industry and operational expertise. Bright Ascension contributes to this community with spacecraft software deployed on more than 50 satellites worldwide, including at least 25 missions focused on environmental and climate monitoring.
This expertise helps ensure that satellite missions deliver reliable, timely data to scientists, policymakers and other downstream users who are studying Earth’s changing environment.
Mission showcase: Climate & environmental satellites
The following missions highlight UK-linked technology supporting climate and environmental monitoring, each enabled by Bright Ascension’s software, which accelerated mission development, streamlined operations and delivered reliable data handling throughout their lifetimes.
- SeaHawk-1 – A 3U CubeSat launched in 2018 and equipped with the HawkEye Ocean Color Imager. Designed to observe changes in ocean surface colour, it provided open-access data supporting research into marine ecosystems, ocean health, and global climate studies. Built with Bright Ascension’s flight software development kit and operated through our mission control software, SeaHawk demonstrated the value of affordable, scalable smallsat missions for environmental science.
- IOD-1GEMS (Global Environmental Monitoring Satellite) – Equipped with a weather observation payload developed as part of the GEMS programme, this mission delivers highly accurate and frequent weather readings. The data supports real-world applications such as enabling airlines and shipping companies to optimise routes, reducing delays, fuel consumption and emissions while improving safety. Bright Ascension software was integral to mission operations, ensuring seamless integration of the payload and reliable delivery of environmental insights.
- EPICHyper-1, 2 & 3 – A series of hyperspectral imaging missions providing detailed land and vegetation analysis. By capturing fine spectral data beyond what the human eye can detect, EPICHyper supports agriculture, forestry and climate research by revealing hidden patterns in soil health, crop conditions and land use change. The missions were powered by Bright Ascension’s software solutions, which handled the complexity of onboard systems and enabled smooth, scalable mission management from launch through operation.
Insight
“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, and space technology is essential in understanding it. Satellites deliver the global perspective that no other system can provide – and the UK’s contribution ensures that this data is accessible, reliable, and ready to inform climate action.”
Learn more about how the HELIX suite can revolutionise your approach to space-based services at brightascension.com/HELIX
About Bright Ascension – Bright Ascension is a UK-based space solution provider specialising in software products and services. The company’s solutions are designed to accelerate the satellite mission development and operations in a cost-effective manner.
Space software that bridges upstream and downstream for better climate insight