Latest news with #Ranging
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SFL Missions Inc. Included on Team Awarded Moon Mapping Study Contract by European Space Agency (ESA)
TORONTO, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SFL Missions Inc. is a member of the team led by NUVIEW GmbH that has been contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct a Pre-Phase A study, within a new scheme for Small Exploration Missions, for the Moonraker lunar mapping mission. The Moonraker satellite will carry a laser scanner to create a detailed elevation map of the Moon's surface. The Moonraker mission will consist of a single orbiter operating in a low-altitude polar orbit around the Moon. The orbiter will host a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) payload to capture highly accurate elevation points of the terrain. These points will be used to generate 3D elevation models that will be relied upon to assess and select future landing sites. Moonraker's LiDAR data will also serve a broader scientific purpose, including scanning permanently shadowed regions for water ice and providing valuable insights into the Moon's geological and interior composition. The Moonraker LiDAR will operator in two modes – one for broad-area scanning of the Moon's polar regions and the other for high-resolution surveys of specific areas of interest. "As part of the Pre-Phase A contract led by NUVIEW, SFL Missions is supporting the mission concept by contributing to transit trajectory analysis, orbit design, and satellite platform conceptual design for Moonraker," said Jesse Eyer, NUVIEW Space Missions Architect. "We're proud to collaborate on advancing this visionary lunar LiDAR initiative." The mission analysis evaluates possible launch options and trajectories for efficiently entering into lunar orbit, and it studies how the operational orbit parameters impact the spacecraft design and payload data collection. The system design focuses on payload accommodation, spacecraft layout, and sizing of the various subsystem components. In particular, the propulsion system is sized with the appropriate amount of fuel to complete the transit phase and then maintain the operational orbit while counteracting perturbations caused by the Moon's irregular gravity field. Detailed mission and system requirements are also developed to guide future design phases for the project. NUVIEW GmbH of Berlin, Germany, serves as prime contractor for the Pre-Phase A study team, which includes several members in addition to SFL Missions. NUVIEW GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of NUVIEW Inc. which is developing the world's first commercial space-based LiDAR constellation for 3D mapping of the Earth. About SFL Missions Inc. ( SFL Missions Inc. generates bigger returns from smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL Missions consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. We build quality small satellites at low cost that work the first time and enable NewSpace companies to mass produce through our Flex Production program. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. We arrange launches globally and maintain a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier-breaking work of SFL Missions is a key enabler to tomorrow's cost-aggressive satellites and constellations. Follow SFL Missions X @SFLMissionsInstagram at About NUVIEW NUVIEW is a pioneering geospatial technology company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, building the world's first commercial LiDAR satellite constellation. Our mission: to deliver a continuously updated 3D map of the Earth's land surface from space. As the first mover in space-based LiDAR, we're combining cutting-edge satellite, sensor, and software innovations to unlock unprecedented global insights. NUVIEW's integrated data platform empowers users to access and analyze high-resolution elevation models and imagery, including optical, SAR, hyperspectral, and thermal, across a wide range of applications, from climate science and infrastructure planning to agriculture, forestry, and national security. Backed by a team with deep technical expertise and a track record of commercial success, NUVIEW is shaping the future of Earth observation. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram. View source version on Contacts NUVIEW Media Contact: media@ Dr. Robert E. ZeeSFL Missions Sign in to access your portfolio


Business Wire
4 days ago
- Science
- Business Wire
SFL Missions Inc. Included on Team Awarded Moon Mapping Study Contract by European Space Agency (ESA)
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SFL Missions Inc. is a member of the team led by NUVIEW GmbH that has been contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct a Pre-Phase A study, within a new scheme for Small Exploration Missions, for the Moonraker lunar mapping mission. The Moonraker satellite will carry a laser scanner to create a detailed elevation map of the Moon's surface. The Moonraker mission will consist of a single orbiter operating in a low-altitude polar orbit around the Moon. The orbiter will host a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) payload to capture highly accurate elevation points of the terrain. These points will be used to generate 3D elevation models that will be relied upon to assess and select future landing sites. Moonraker's LiDAR data will also serve a broader scientific purpose, including scanning permanently shadowed regions for water ice and providing valuable insights into the Moon's geological and interior composition. The Moonraker LiDAR will operator in two modes – one for broad-area scanning of the Moon's polar regions and the other for high-resolution surveys of specific areas of interest. 'As part of the Pre-Phase A contract led by NUVIEW, SFL Missions is supporting the mission concept by contributing to transit trajectory analysis, orbit design, and satellite platform conceptual design for Moonraker,' said Jesse Eyer, NUVIEW Space Missions Architect. 'We're proud to collaborate on advancing this visionary lunar LiDAR initiative.' The mission analysis evaluates possible launch options and trajectories for efficiently entering into lunar orbit, and it studies how the operational orbit parameters impact the spacecraft design and payload data collection. The system design focuses on payload accommodation, spacecraft layout, and sizing of the various subsystem components. In particular, the propulsion system is sized with the appropriate amount of fuel to complete the transit phase and then maintain the operational orbit while counteracting perturbations caused by the Moon's irregular gravity field. Detailed mission and system requirements are also developed to guide future design phases for the project. NUVIEW GmbH of Berlin, Germany, serves as prime contractor for the Pre-Phase A study team, which includes several members in addition to SFL Missions. NUVIEW GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of NUVIEW Inc. which is developing the world's first commercial space-based LiDAR constellation for 3D mapping of the Earth. About SFL Missions Inc. ( SFL Missions Inc. generates bigger returns from smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL Missions consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. We build quality small satellites at low cost that work the first time and enable NewSpace companies to mass produce through our Flex Production program. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. We arrange launches globally and maintain a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier-breaking work of SFL Missions is a key enabler to tomorrow's cost-aggressive satellites and constellations. Follow SFL Missions Inc. Twitter X @SFLMissions Instagram at About NUVIEW NUVIEW is a pioneering geospatial technology company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, building the world's first commercial LiDAR satellite constellation. Our mission: to deliver a continuously updated 3D map of the Earth's land surface from space. As the first mover in space-based LiDAR, we're combining cutting-edge satellite, sensor, and software innovations to unlock unprecedented global insights. NUVIEW's integrated data platform empowers users to access and analyze high-resolution elevation models and imagery, including optical, SAR, hyperspectral, and thermal, across a wide range of applications, from climate science and infrastructure planning to agriculture, forestry, and national security. Backed by a team with deep technical expertise and a track record of commercial success, NUVIEW is shaping the future of Earth observation.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Luminar Collaborates With Caterpillar on Industrial Autonomous Solution
ORLANDO, Fla., March 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR), a leading global automotive technology company, announced a collaboration with Caterpillar Inc. to integrate LiDAR technology into Caterpillar's next generation autonomous solution. LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is critical for navigation and obstacle detection in autonomous machines. LiDAR uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to continuously scan the surrounding environment and provide high-precision measurement of the shape and size of objects nearby. The Luminar LiDAR technology will be introduced with Cat® Command for hauling, initially targeted for quarry and aggregate operations. The Cat® off-highway truck will feature two Iris LiDAR with a unique integration system designed exclusively for Caterpillar. Caterpillar has long been recognized as an industry leader in autonomy, with autonomous trucks on three continents having traveled more than 334 million kilometers and autonomously moving more than 9.3 billion tonnes. "We are proud to collaborate with Luminar on our next generation autonomous solution. We've invested in autonomy and automation for more than 30 years, and we've seen how it adds value for our customers in terms of safety, productivity and efficiency," said Jaime Mineart, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Integrated Components and Solutions for Caterpillar Inc. "This new partnership with Caterpillar, the global leader in industrial equipment, has the opportunity to be a spearhead for next industrial revolution of automation," said Austin Russell, Founder and CEO of Luminar. "Now that Luminar has successfully executed for automotive series production, we're able to branch out to adjacent markets with a shared mission. Together, we look forward to saving lives and enhancing profitability for CAT customers around the world with industry-leading capabilities." About CaterpillarWith 2024 sales and revenues of $64.8 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at or join the conversation on our social media channels at About Luminar:Luminar is a global automotive technology company ushering in a new era of vehicle safety and autonomy. For the past decade, Luminar has built an advanced hardware and software/AI platform to enable its various partners, ranging from Volvo Cars and Mercedes-Benz to NVIDIA and Mobileye, to develop and deploy the world's most advanced passenger vehicles. Following the launch of the Volvo EX90 as the first global production vehicle to standardize its technology, Luminar is poised to lead the industry in enabling next-generation safety and autonomous capabilities for global production vehicles. For more information, please visit Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "aims," "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "set," "continue," "towards," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "forward," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to expectations regarding opportunities to advance automation, to save lives and to enhance profitability. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including that next-generation sensors and software will be developed successfully, and that these systems will perform as intended and achieve meaningful safety or efficiency improvement. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect the Company's business is included in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC, including in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's most reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. View source version on Contacts Luminar Contacts: Media Relations:Milin MehtaPress@ Investor Relations:Aileen SmithInvestors@ Sign in to access your portfolio