MyRadar, a weather data company, has forged a launch agreement with Exolaunch, a German CubeSat deployment firm, to deploy weather satellites. These pathfinder satellites, named “HORIS-1” and “HORIS-2,” are set to launch as part of two upcoming SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions.
Exolaunch has gained prominence in rideshare missions, particularly on SpaceX's Transporter missions, deploying over 240 CubeSats with its “EXOpod” CubeSat deployer. Apart from the collaboration with MyRadar, Exolaunch recently inked a launch agreement with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, offering launch opportunities under the Access to Space for All initiative.
MyRadar, along with parent company ACME AtronOMatic, is primarily recognized for the MyRadar weather radar and prediction mobile app, offering features like high definition radar, weather alerts, forecasts, and hurricane tracking. The app utilizes densely compressed radar, temperature, and wind data to provide its predictions and maps.
The collaboration with Exolaunch stems from MyRadar's $650,000 Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The grant aims to launch and operate a pair of 1U CubeSats as part of NOAA's “Orbital Wildfire Resilience (OWR)” initiative, enhancing resilience against wildfires using satellite technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
Named “Hyperspectral Orbital Remote Imaging Spectrometer” (HORIS), the satellites will be equipped with optical and infrared imagers for multi-sensor data capture and AI-assisted alerting. HORIS-1 is scheduled for deployment in October 2024, followed by HORIS-2 in February 2025. These satellites build upon previous prototypes launched by ACME AtronOMatic in 2022.
The partnership with Exolaunch underscores MyRadar's commitment to leveraging advanced space technologies for weather and earth observation. MyRadar CEO Andy Green emphasized their dedication to innovation in weather technology, highlighting the strategic importance of the HORIS constellation in global weather forecasting and environmental monitoring.
The launch of HORIS-1 marks a significant milestone for MyRadar, signaling the realization of their vision for an orbital resilience platform. Dr. Sarvesh Garimella, MyRadar's Chief Scientist & CTO, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming mission, emphasizing its transformative potential for the company's objectives in space.