Imaging Space from Space - the bigger picture

HEO is a commercial company that performs Non-Earth Imaging (NEI), also referred to as Satellite-to-Satellite imaging or Space-to-Space imaging (S2S).

This involves using space-based sensors to capture resolved imagery of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) in orbit. This approach has several challenges: objects in space are far apart from one another and are moving with very high relative velocity.

To perform NEI successfully and within a sensible time scale, multiple imaging platforms with high-resolution telescopes and suitable automated infrastructure are required. HEO achieves this by leveraging existing Earth Observation platforms to perform high-cadence, resolved images of objects in space.

Through the use of HEO's Inspect platform, which monitors imaging opportunities and controls sensor tasking, this capability can provide several key applications to space operations. This includes defence applications (such as space object identification and capability assessment) as well as civil applications, such as mitigating the risk of space debris.