SINGAPORE - A Singapore-made eye in the sky was on Oct 2 launched via a SpaceX rocket into space, where it will keep watch for events such as forest fires and oil spills, and send pings back to Earth if it thinks such disasters are detected.

This shoebox-sized satellite developed by NTU is the first nanosatellite built here to be equipped with AI technologies that can help it analyse and filter cloud-free images, so it only relays useful data.

This cuts out the tedious work for scientists on the ground, who previously needed to sieve through every image.

The satellite, called CRIMSON-1, will be tested during a year-long mission.

Researchers will study how well the 5kg satellite’s computing system manages heat and uses up power under heavy workloads, said NTU and Singapore’s space agency in a joint statement on Oct 2.

The space vehicle will also test a new type of solar cells - which convert solar energy into electricity - in harsh space environments.

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