GPS News
EARTH OBSERVATION
Zohar rides with SpaceX to enhance real time space weather coverage
illustration only
Zohar rides with SpaceX to enhance real time space weather coverage
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 04, 2025

Mission Space is preparing to make a major stride forward by sending its new Zohar space weather sensor payload into orbit aboard SpaceX's Transporter-13. This launch marks a significant milestone, as the sensor is designed to deliver continuous readings on solar activity, radiation levels, and magnetospheric variations in real time.

Zohar is placed and managed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by DPhi Space. Its instruments capture data about coronal mass ejections, solar flares, and other phenomena that have tangible effects on critical systems. These solar events can disturb satellite communications, pose radiation risks for emerging space tourism, undermine GPS accuracy, and create power grid issues linked to geomagnetically induced currents.

"Space weather is a data monopoly game: the first to launch the constellation and build the infrastructure will win," Alex Pospekhov, CEO and founder at Mission Space predicts. "Even with half a constellation, in two years we will generate a thousand times more space weather data than humans have generated in the last 60. And the real-time data will let us develop machine learning models based on it."

Through Zohar and the company's SWOS analytics platform, Mission Space is directly tackling the complexities of space weather. By providing rapid data to space operators, airlines, defense organizations, mission planners, and other sectors, the goal is to help them anticipate disturbances and make strategic decisions based on evolving solar conditions.

Though Zohar's initial deployment concentrates on activities in LEO, it also inaugurates Mission Space's vision for deeper exploration and human ventures to Mars, lunar destinations, and beyond. As humanity increases its presence off Earth, delivering comprehensive, real-time solar intelligence becomes even more important for safeguarding missions and hardware.

Mission Space is also addressing the dangers solar storms pose to essential infrastructure. Swift, precise space weather forecasts can shield satellites, travel routes, autonomous systems, and various industries from disruptive coronal mass ejections or flares. By delivering advance warnings, the company enables customers to preserve their assets and prepare contingencies.

Because space-based operations are now woven into Earth's economic and security framework, Mission Space endeavors to make these frontiers navigable with greater assurance.

Our long-term ambition is to field a 24-satellite constellation. These satellites will occupy two orbital planes, ensuring at least one unit passes through the Polar Cusp every hour. Each spacecraft in this network will carry ZOHAR-I instruments.

Currently, we are finalizing our SEED funding round, which will help finance the deployment of the constellation's second half.

We believe there is a robust market for both services and raw data sales. Initially, we will focus on:

1. Forecasting Services and Industry Products: Based on gaps noted in the latest SWAG Group report and related studies, there is unmet demand for timely, high-resolution, multi-point space weather insights. Our orbital network is designed to satisfy that need.

2. Data Sales to Government Agencies: Organizations such as NOAA are actively investing in space weather resources. NOAA's 2024 budget, for example, allocates around 20 million dollars for initial systems that collect and process space weather data.

We are creating offerings that simplify space weather risk management, supplying clarity where existing systems are often confusing. Customers commonly struggle to interpret complex data and require guidance to assess how solar events may disrupt their operations.

From a technical standpoint, nowcasting tools are still limited, and predictions fall short of what users need for real-time decision-making. Mission Space addresses these challenges with two main innovations:

1. Mid-Term Forecasting Model: Our proprietary approach has demonstrated twice the accuracy of NOAA's standard model by drawing on historical data and multiple information sources. This gives operators additional warning before solar phenomena like flares occur.

2. Constellation-Based Real-Time Data: Our satellite network underpins short-term forecasting with continuous, multi-point readings. The system spots solar flares immediately and projects resulting effects on vital services and infrastructure.

Demand for actionable space weather knowledge is rising, but many potential users lack products that directly speak to their concerns. This gap forms a substantial commercial opportunity.

Our mission spans the divide between academic research and practical applications, providing real-world solutions to meet the growing appetite for space weather protection.

Related Links
Mission Space
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EARTH OBSERVATION
Scientists cast doubt on famous US groundhog's weather forecasts
Washington (AFP) Jan 31, 2025
Scientists have cast doubt on the reliability of America's most celebrated rodent forecaster - whose apparent knack of predicting how long winter will last forms a hallowed tradition in the United States. Punxsutawney Phil, made famous by the 1993 film "Groundhog Day," attracts thousands of onlookers every February 2 to the Pennsylvania town that he takes his name from. The US state's tradition of using a large rodent to predict the seasons dates back to the Pennsylvania Dutch belief that if a ... read more

EARTH OBSERVATION
French cognac exports to China slump as tariffs bite; Scottish whisky makers fear return of Trump tariffs

Ancient agricultural strategies unveiled as pre-industrial societies adapted to climate shifts

Study examines how African farmers are adapting to mountain climate change

Revolutionary Irrigation System Unearthed in Amazon Linked to Neolithic Revolution

EARTH OBSERVATION
A spintronic perspective on chiral molecule interactions

Nvidia chief meets Trump amid AI trade tensions

Chipmaker Intel beats revenue expectations amidst Q4 loss

Improving the way flash memory is made

EARTH OBSERVATION
NORAD responds to 'multiple' Russian jets near Alaska, Yukon

Japan scrambles jets as Russian bombers fly over high seas

UK eyes third Heathrow runway in growth takeoff bid

UK backs third Heathrow runway in growth takeoff bid

EARTH OBSERVATION
Toyota announces Lexus EV plant in Shanghai

Norway nears 100% goal of all-electric cars

EU vows 'action plan' for beleaguered auto sector

GM reports loss on China hit, projects higher 2025 profits

EARTH OBSERVATION
How things stand in China-US trade tensions with Trump 2.0

Trump says talks Monday with Canada, Mexico over sweeping tariffs

China imposes tariffs on US energy, autos in trade war retaliation

Rubio lays down ultimatum to Panama over canal

EARTH OBSERVATION
Indonesia deforestation rises for third year running: NGO

Launch of the most comprehensive European wetland map

King Charles III teams up with Amazon for documentary

Indonesia deforestation rises for third year running: NGO

EARTH OBSERVATION
Rocket Lab and iQPS finalize arrangement for four Electron missions

Zohar rides with SpaceX to enhance real time space weather coverage

ATLAS bolsters radio frequency network through new HawkEye 360 alliance

SpaceX launches Maxar 3 mission, high-resolution commercial satellites

EARTH OBSERVATION
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.