Satellite imagery analytics firm Eos Data is planning to launch seven Low Earth Orbit satellites by 2024. The firm aims to establish a full production vertical of satellite imaging for farmlands, making this the first satellite constellation designed for agriculture.

With the new satellites, EOS aims to increase the accessibility and accuracy of its satellite monitoring features. It will also help address pressing global challenges, such as climate change, land degradation, environmental threats, and more.

The EOS SAT satellites will feature 1.4 m panchromatic and 2.8 m multispectral Ground Sample Distance (resolution), 11 band channels, and a swath width of up to 40 km. The unique set of band channels utilised will precisely reflect agricultural needs.

The constellation will also allow for a three day revisit time around the globe. Each satellite is designed for a five-year work span.

The EOSDA farming platform includes features such as crop health monitoring, crop classification, growth comparison, soil moisture estimation and weather prediction. 

It also offers:

• Near-real-time data with five to seven more frequent satellite fly-over times per week;
• Image resolutions two to eight times higher than commonly used for agri monitoring satellites;
• Proprietary data for in-house agriculture models to increase processing speed;
• Exclusive image rights for specific areas.

The project is divided into three stages: 2022, 2023, and 2024. The first satellites are projected to launch in early 2022, with subsequent hardware updates in the following years.

“Boosting food production in the age of rapid climate change will require adhering to sustainable agriculture principles,” said EOSDA founder Max Polyakov. “Without reliable data and analytics, that objective becomes almost impossible to achieve. We are set to provide farmers with the data required to meet that goal.”