Launched into Orbit – Images from TeLEOS-1

Singapore, 11 February 2016 — For the first time, Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (ST Electronics) showcased images captured by TeLEOS-1, Singapore’s first Commercial Earth Observation satellite, at the Global Space and Technology Convention 2016 held at Sheraton Towers Singapore.

Selected images were presented in an address by Mr Lee Fook Sun, Deputy CEO & President, Defence Business of ST Engineering and President of ST Electronics during the Opening of the Convention with Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) as the Guest-of-Honour.

“ST Electronics has acquired engineering capabilities in High Resolution Satellite Design, Integration, Manufacturing & Testing and Satellite Ground Operation including Launch and Early Operation and in-orbit testing. We are honoured to be part of the Singapore’s space business eco-system. We will continue to engage industry players, both local and international, to value-add and contribute to the Space industry in Singapore”, said Mr Lee during his address today.

Samples of Test Images by TeLEOS-1 captured as part of In-Orbit Test (IOT)

Changi Airport, Singapore (23 Jan, 2016)

Panama Canal, Panama (2 Feb 2016)

With a mean revisit time of 12-16 hours and coverage of the equatorial belt with up to 6 imaging opportunities within a day, TeLEOS-1 is capable of providing down to one metre resolution panchromatic imagery, with a 12km swath width. TeLEOS-1, being the first remote sensing commercial satellite operating in the Near Equatorial Orbit at +/- 15 degree around the equatorial belt, has the competitive advantage of having more imaging opportunities compared to other polar orbit remote sensing satellites over this region. Business prospects for TeLEOS-1 include applications in maritime security and safety, Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief, environmental and resources monitoring and urban planning and infrastructure management.

Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, India on 16 December 2015 at 8.30 pm (Singapore time) along with five other piggyback satellites, the 400kg satellite made first contact with the ground station 1 hr and 48 minutes after launch.

TeLEOS-1 is in good health and performing to plan as the In-Orbit Test activities continue to be conducted and test imagery are taken as part of the camera calibration and validation process. This includes a series of imaging experiments for the camera payload, with different camera settings conducted at different areas as well as at various times of the day, to bring out the best performance of the camera. Upon completion of the calibration for the camera, the camera’s optimal settings will be established for different lighting conditions and scenes’ textures. TeLEOS-1 remains on schedule to roll out its first commercial imagery by mid-2016.

TeLEOS-1 is the first commercial satellite designed and built in Singapore. With its successful launch, ST Electronics has acquired the engineering capabilities, experience as well as the confidence to forge ahead with plans to design and build more advanced satellites in Singapore at the ST Electronics Satellite Systems Centre. In the pipeline will be a much larger “Next Gen Satellite” of about 600kg to 700kg, with higher performance specifications in terms of pointing accuracy, agility, storage capacity, data throughput, and power. This will enable the satellite to carry more powerful payloads.