Singapore’s earth observation satellite inserted into successful orbit

Singapore’s Earth observation satellite TeLEOS-2 is functioning successfully after insertion to a near-equatorial orbit at a 10-degree inclination to the earth surface.

The 750 kg satellite, taken to space using an Indian made PSLV launcher, can provide one-metre high-resolution imagery with an average 14 passes a day.

It will offer enhanced and wider coverage of many major shipping routes, as well as disaster-prone and forest-fire regions, especially in Southeast Asia.

This provides numerous opportunities for customers in applications such as disaster monitoring and management, environmental monitoring, natural resource exploration and management, climate change and weather studies.

Developed by ST Engineering in partnership with Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), TeLEOS-2 features a made-in-Singapore SAR payload and is able to capture both day and night images under all-weather conditions in high resolutions.

TeLOS-2 will enhance ST Engineering’s commercial satellite imagery solutions, providing multi-modal and high-responsiveness features to its customers.

The unique feature of the satellite is its polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) which is a first for Singapore.

PolSAR satellites use radar signals to measure and image the Earth's surface, specifically capturing and analysing the polarisation characteristics of the reflected signals.

They provide information about the physical and geometric properties of the Earth's surface, which can then be used for various applications such as agriculture, forestry, disaster management, and climate change monitoring.

The PolSAR payload on TeLEOS-2 allows the satellite to penetrate cloud and precipitation and capture both day and night images under all weather conditions.

This also allows for improved monitoring, mapping and quantification, as well as multi-parameter details of different surfaces.

ST Engineering’s Digital Systems President, Low Jin Phang, said the satellite will “further propel the growth of Singapore’s space industry and strengthen ST Engineering’s position in the global space market”.

ST Engineering continues to deepen its capabilities and expand its service offerings for key commercial applications including maritime, agriculture, environment and disaster monitoring and management, said Low