Singapore to launch first AI nanosatellite under national space programme

Singapore is preparing to launch its first artificial intelligence-powered nanosatellite as part of a wider national effort to expand its space technology capabilities. The small satellite will be capable of analysing data in orbit and selecting only the most useful information to send back to Earth, reducing transmission time and improving response to urgent situations.

The project is led by the Satellite Research Centre at Nanyang Technological University and represents the country’s first mission involving onboard AI-driven edge computing. The satellite will undergo a one-year test mission to assess its electronic systems and overall operational design, marking a significant step in Singapore’s space ambitions.

Equipped with artificial intelligence, the nanosatellite can be instructed to prioritise cloud-free images or flag urgent events such as forest fires and oil spills. Instead of transmitting large volumes of raw data, the system can process images in space and relay only relevant findings back to ground stations.

This approach sharply reduces the amount of data transmitted. Compact outputs, including key coordinates, image analysis summaries and selected image snippets, may take up only kilobytes or a few megabytes. By contrast, unprocessed satellite imagery can range from hundreds of megabytes to several gigabytes, significantly increasing transmission time.

Part of the S$200 million national space investment

The AI payload will be integrated into a compact satellite measuring 30cm by 10cm by 10cm, built by Singapore-based space technology firm Satoro Space. The satellite weighs less than 5kg and is scheduled for launch into an orbit about 500km above Earth in 2026.

The mission was announced on 2 February as one of three new space projects supported by the national Space Technology Development Programme. Since 2022, the Government has committed more than S$200 million to the programme to strengthen research and development and accelerate growth across Singapore’s space technology ecosystem.

Satellites in low Earth orbit can only communicate with ground stations when passing overhead, with each contact window lasting up to 10 minutes. Most Singapore satellites operate in sun-synchronous orbits, completing a pass approximately every 100 minutes. During these limited windows, transmitting large volumes of raw data can be inefficient.

SaRC executive director Lim Wee Seng said onboard processing addresses this constraint. “Instead of sending everything back to Earth, the satellite can make decisions on board – filtering, analysing, and transmitting information, not just raw data. This dramatically reduces latency and makes space systems far more efficient.”

He added: “Intelligent satellites can decide what matters on board, ensuring precious space bandwidth is used to deliver answers, not noise.”

Testing future technologies in space

Beyond AI-powered data processing, the mission will also test next-generation perovskite solar cells mounted on the same satellite. These solar cells are cheaper and easier to manufacture than traditional panels and can be printed onto flexible, lightweight materials, making them well-suited for small spacecraft.

According to Mr Lim, it will take a few years before the advanced technologies demonstrated on the mission are ready for commercial use. Similar AI-based approaches to optimising satellite data transmission began emerging around 2020, when the European Space Agency’s PhiSat-1 CubeSat demonstrated onboard machine learning to filter cloudy imagery before sending data to Earth.

The AI nanosatellite is one of three space initiatives announced by NTU. The second project involves a nanosatellite scheduled for deployment in 2028 to test a new propulsion system. This system is designed to improve manoeuvrability in orbit during a mission lasting approximately 1.5 years.

The third project is a space imaging camera that uses three mirrors instead of conventional lenses to produce sharper images. The camera is set to be installed on the International Space Station in 2027, where it will operate for six months. Together, the projects highlight Singapore’s growing focus on practical, space-based technologies with potential real-world applications.