Latest news with #SusanneHake
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
US Satellites Capture China's Space Activities
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. United States satellites recently captured "crystal-clear" images revealing increased Chinese activity in space, as both powers race to dominate this domain beyond Earth's atmosphere. Maxar Technologies, a Colorado-based satellite imagery company, told Newsweek that its non-Earth imaging (NEI) capability provides what it describes as "advanced visual intelligence" of any object in Earth's orbit by capturing "very high-resolution" images. Newsweek reached out to the China National Space Administration for comment via email. Why It Matters China is advancing several programs as the East Asian power pushes for supremacy in space, including building a network of 16 space-enabling facilities in Latin America, operating the Tiangong Space Station, and planning to send astronauts to the moon by 2030. Facing growing challenges from China, the U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 to maintain American superiority in space. In April, a U.S. military satellite capable of maneuvering near objects in orbit was tracked buzzing a pair of Chinese satellites. What To Know Earlier this month, Maxar Technologies shared images of the Tiangong Space Station and the International Space Station, captured by one of its WorldView Legion satellites, on social media, saying that it is "unleashing a new era of high-fidelity, space-to-space imaging." The level of resolution and structural clarity in these images opens new possibilities for monitoring orbital activities, the company said. "This isn't just a technical achievement; it's a critical capability for space domain awareness and monitoring activity beyond Earth." These images of the ISS and China's Tiangong Space Station were collected by one of Maxar's WorldView Legion satellites—showcasing our ability to image mid-inclination orbits with unmatched clarity. With sub-10 cm SSD and rapid tasking, we're unlocking new capabilities in space… — Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) July 1, 2025 Susanne Hake, general manager of Maxar Intelligence's U.S. Government business, later shared on social media what she described as a "crystal-clear picture" of the Chinese optical remote sensing satellite ShiJian-26, captured on June 3 by the company's WorldView Legion satellites. "This type of resolution is revolutionary for space situational awareness," said Hake, adding that ShiJian-26 is one of China's latest-generation optical reconnaissance satellites, and that the ability to photograph it this clearly marks a new era in satellite-to-satellite observation. According to Chinese state media, the ShiJian-26—reportedly "mainly used" to provide information services supporting national economic development—was launched aboard a rocket on May 29, a few days before it was photographed in orbit by Maxar Technologies. Marco Langbroek, a lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, explained to Newsweek that space domain awareness, or space situational awareness, refers to "keeping an eye on what is happening in space." This includes activities ranging from tracking active payloads and space debris to analyzing collision avoidance, predicting reentries, and characterizing objects—the latter providing information about "satellite function, behavioral intent, and predicting future behavior." "We have to keep a close eye on what is happening in space to avoid problems, and to keep active parties in space accountable for what they are doing," said Langbroek, when asked about the importance of space situational awareness amid increasing space activities. Regarding the "clearest NEI" Maxar Technologies has ever collected, the images provide clues about the function and capabilities of the Chinese satellite, Langbroek said, and that differences from previously launched satellites may hint at upgrades in its capacity and technology. A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the SJ-11-02 experimental orbiter of China's ShiJian satellite series blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province on July 29, 2011. A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the SJ-11-02 experimental orbiter of China's ShiJian satellite series blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province on July 29, 2011. Liang Jie/Color China Photo/AP Images What People Are Saying Susanne Hake, general manager of Maxar Intelligence's U.S. Government business, wrote on LinkedIn: "As space becomes increasingly crowded with thousands of new satellites from multiple nations, we can now monitor satellite operations, detect modifications or threats, and provide near real-time intelligence on space-based assets in unprecedented detail." Maxar Technologies told Newsweek: "NEI supports critical missions such as satellite commissioning, anomaly resolution, orbital threat assessments, and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO)." According to the U.S. Space Force, RPO enables the space vehicle to maneuver near a space object, allowing for characterization of anomalies and enhanced surveillance. Marco Langbroek, lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology, told Newsweek: "Space technology has become increasingly vital for both the military and civil society. Our modern society and economies could not function without, nor can the modern military. Both military and as a society, we have therefore become very vulnerable to anything going wrong in the space domain." What Happens Next China's increasing space activity remains under close observation. Recently, two Chinese satellites reportedly docked in high orbit for the first time to allow refueling and servicing, extending their operational lifespan and supporting sustainable long-term operations.
Business Wire
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Maxar Awarded Contract by NGA to Deliver AI-Powered Object Detection Services
WESTMINSTER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maxar Intelligence, the leading provider of secure, precise geospatial insights, announced today that it was awarded Delivery Order 01 under the Luno A program by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). This award is focused on delivering commercial analytic services, specifically automated AI/ML-generated object detections over many specified locations at once. Maxar is primarily identifying various classes of aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and railcars, helping NGA determine object counts at specified locations, classification of objects, identify trends and anomalies, and perform spatial and temporal geospatial intelligence analysis. The mission represents a strong example of operationalizing commercial technologies for persistent site monitoring at global scale. Maxar has partnered on this award with satellite Earth observation data provider, Satellogic, Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), integrating the capacity and revisit of both constellations to deliver a combination of persistent monitoring and high-resolution imaging for the most demanding multi-sensor applications; Enabled Intelligence to aid with model validation and verification; and Striveworks for the AIOps platform. Delivery Order 01 requires excellent performance against extremely tight delivery timelines, including the ability to collect multiple images across constellations within specified windows and delivering model outputs within hours of image acquisition. Automation is the key to success for all phases that include collection, computer vision model inference, and delivery of timely results. 'This award reflects the power of combining commercial innovation to support national security mission needs,' said Susanne Hake, SVP and General Manager of Maxar's U.S. Government business. 'By working together with other industry leaders, we're enabling a powerful combination of diverse sensor data and advanced analytics to help make smarter, faster decisions.' For more information about Maxar's analytical offerings, visit About Maxar Intelligence Maxar Intelligence is a leading provider of secure, precise geospatial insights. Operating the most advanced commercial Earth observation constellation on orbit, we use the power of very high-resolution satellite imagery and software technology to deliver mission success on Earth and in space. Our secure, AI-powered products and services deliver ground truth in near real-time to keep nations safe, improve navigation, protect our planet, speed up disaster response and more. For more information, visit
