2Operate, Danish nanosatellite specialist GomSpace and Aarhus University are working together to boost constellation management with artificial intelligence (AI).

The partners are working within the Innovation Fund Denmark-funded MegaMan project for assessing how existing telecom standards and AI solutions can be used to manage future satellite constellations.

Under the partnership, the entities used GomSpace’s GOMX-4 satellite mission and the Delfini-1 mission by Aarhus University to evaluate 2Operate’s existing AI-based 2Solve product.

By using 2Solve and AI, the number of operator hours required to manage satellite constellations can be reduced.

“Being able to operate satellite constellations 24/7 with the highest availability is a key capability for GomSpace, and being able to integrate proven solutions reduces both risk and required investments.”

Furthermore, network incidents can be resolved via the automation of these functions, quickly leading to better satellite service availability.

2Operate CEO Christian Ingerslev Sørensen said: “It is very exciting for us to see how the lessons learned from the terrestrial telecom sector can boost the uptake of advanced network management solutions for space – and how well our product adapts to the new requirements.”

After successfully completing the trials, 2Operate and GomSpace have signed an MoU to strengthen their partnership.

They are also planning to prepare the introduction of the 2Solve AI-capabilities through GomSpace’s Mega-Constellations Operations Platform (MCOP).

GomSpace’s subsidiary in Luxembourg is introducing the MCOP.

GomSpace CEO Niels Buus said: “Being able to operate satellite constellations 24/7 with the highest availability is a key capability for GomSpace, and being able to integrate proven solutions reduces both risk and required investments.”

Last January, the company contracted Virgin Orbit to carry out the low-inclination launch of its new set of nanosatellites.