NTU satellite that uses AI to detect forest fires, oil spills launched by SpaceX rocket
The satellite, called CRIMSON-1, will be tested during a year-long mission.
On October 2, a Singapore-made satellite called CRIMSON-1 was launched into space on a SpaceX rocket. The shoebox-sized CRIMSON-1, developed by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), will monitor events such as forest fires and oil spills and relay data back to Earth. Its AI technology allows it to analyze and filter out cloud-free images, reducing the workload for ground scientists who previously had to sift through every image.
The 5kg CRIMSON-1 satellite is equipped with a new type of solar cell made of perovskite, a lighter and potentially cheaper alternative to conventional silicon-based solar panels. Developed by NTU researchers and NUS spin-off Singfilm Solar, perovskite solar cells could revolutionize space technology due to their thin, lightweight properties, making them ideal for space applications where every gramme matters.
The satellite will undergo a year-long mission to test the performance of its computing system, heat management, and power usage under heavy workloads. Additionally, the new perovskite solar cells will be evaluated for their durability and efficiency in the harsh conditions of space. While the satellite itself will still be powered by gallium arsenide-based panels, the perovskite cells will be tested to measure the electrical power they generate.
CRIMSON-1 was among 130 space vehicles launched by a single SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The satellite, built by Singapore-based space tech firm Satoro Space, is NTU's 14th research satellite, with more than 30 Singapore satellites launched over the past two decades. The National Space Agency of Singapore (NSA) formed in April 2026, aims to boost the country's space industry and research ecosystem through initiatives like the $210 million Space Technology Development Programme.
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