Bright Ascension’s extensive expertise in onboard and operations software enables faster and more efficient data delivery and lays the foundations for innovative Earth Observation services with real-world environmental benefits – read their Space4Climate Members’ Showcase
As demand for reliable, real-time climate data from space grows, so too does the need for efficient, scalable software to support it. From improving how Earth Observation (EO) satellites are operated to streamlining the delivery of their insights on the ground, UK-based Bright Ascension is developing tools that make space-based climate services faster, cheaper and easier to access.
Application: Enabling land monitoring and climate resilience with OS-VOLT
Bright Ascension is contributing to the development of next-generation satellite systems that support climate resilience and sustainability goals. One example is OS-VOLT, a project supported by both the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency and led by Craft Prospect, a Glasgow-based space engineering company.
One of the outcomes of OS-VOLT is provision of climate and forestry monitoring services for Resilience Constellation, the mission’s largest client. The data will be collected through the onboard hyperspectral imager and will support informed decision-making on climate mitigation by governments, financial institutions, businesses and civil society.
Bright Ascension is providing its HELIX® software to support the mission’s system design, onboard and ground-based software architecture, and a simple yet powerful interface to allow users define and refine monitoring requirements and collect space-based data. The long-term aim of OS-VOLT is to assess how data collected from space can help generate actionable climate insights to support environmental monitoring more efficiently and affordably.
Read the full OS-Volt case study →
UK expertise: Bridging the gap between upstream operations and downstream impact
With more than 50 successful software deployments in orbit, Bright Ascension is a recognised contributor to the UK’s Earth Observation capabilities. The company specialises in developing modular, off-the-shelf satellite software products that reduce mission complexity and cost.
Its HELIX® suite of products is designed to support the entire satellite mission lifecycle—from onboard software for spacecraft control to mission operations and data delivery on the ground. For example:
- HELIX Flightkit provides the onboard software foundation for managing spacecraft.
- HELIX Ops enhances ground operations with flexible mission planning and control tools.
- HELIX Infinity supports the downstream by simplifying access to EO data and services for end users.
HELIX Infinity is particularly relevant to climate applications, offering a highly adaptable platform that can be configured for a wide variety of downstream services. These include environmental monitoring, climate modelling, disaster response and complex communication workflows – making EO data delivery simpler, faster and more responsive to global climate needs.
Bright Ascension’s software has been used in missions involving satellites such as TROLL, UKube-1, the Kelpie satellites, EIRSAT-1 and Faraday Phoenix, among many others. It also supports multiple CubeSats across a range of commercial and research missions, demonstrating the flexibility and flight heritage of the HELIX suite.
Insight
“To make a real impact on climate action, we need to close the gap between satellites in orbit and the people who depend on the insights they deliver,” says Peter Mendham, CEO of Bright Ascension. “At Bright Ascension, we’re focused on building software that not only supports reliable satellite operations but also ensures that Earth Observation data is delivered quickly, flexibly, and in a way that drives practical decision-making on the ground.”
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.