BlueBon
{{Short description|Polish Cubesat with South Korean payload}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = BlueBon
| image = BlueBon Rendering.jpg
| image_caption = A rendering of BlueBon
| insignia = Deep Blue RIDE! patch.png
| insignia_caption = Patch of the Deep Blue mission, the BlueBon's launch
| mission_type = Earth Observation
| operator = SatRev
| website = [https://www.satrev.space/ satrev.space]
| COSPAR_ID =
| SATCAT =
| mission_duration =
| spacecraft_type = 6U Cubesat
| manufacturer = SatRev
TelePIX
Ministry of Science and ICT
POLSA
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass =
| power =
| launch_date = {{start date text|14 January 2025, 19:09:00|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = Falcon 9
| launch_site = Vandenberg SCL-4
| launch_contractor = SpaceX Transporter-12
| disposal_type =
| deactivated =
| last_contact =
| decay_date =
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference =
| orbit_regime = LEO
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|525|km|mi}}
| orbit_inclination = SSO
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
}}
BlueBon is a 6UXL Cubesat designed and built by the polish company SatRev in conjunction with South Korean firm TelePIX, the Ministry of Science and ICT and POLSA that was launched on board the SpaceX Falcon9 Transporter-12.
Development
BlueBon is the first satellite based on SatRev's satellite platform REC, built as a dedicated mission for payload owner, TelePIX.{{cite web |title=SatRev will launch a dedicated satellite for TelePIX in 2024 |url=https://ceo.com.pl/en/satrev-will-launch-a-dedicated-satellite-for-telepix-in-2024-2024/ |website=ceo.com.pl |access-date=11 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=The Dedicated Satellite Mission: SatRev and TelePIX Strengthen Ties for Satellite Advancement |url=https://www.satrev.space/article/the-dedicated-satellite-mission-satrev-and-telepix-strengthen-ties-for-satellite-advancement |website=satrev.space |access-date=11 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=RIDE! Reveals Official Mission Patch for Deep Blue RIDE! Launch Mission: A SatRev 6U-XL satellite aboard Falcon 9, Transporter-12 |url=https://www.ridespace.io/news/ride-reveals-official-mission-patch-for-deep-blue-ride-launch-mission-a-satrev-6u-xl-satellite-aboard-falcon-9-transporter-12 |website=Ridespace.io |access-date=20 February 2025}} It was described as the world's first satellite with the mission to detect monitor and quantify blue carbon using an AI processing unit and propitiatory algorithms to enable the satellite's imagery to be processed and analyzed in space before being sent down to earth, therefore lowing the carbon emissions from data processing.{{cite web |title=BLUEBON |url=https://www.ces.tech/ces-innovation-awards/2024/bluebon/ |website=ces.tech |access-date=20 February 2025}}
BlueBon's payload won the 2024 Consumer Technology Association innovation award. BlueBon was also shown off at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan in 2024.{{cite web |title=TelePIX Exhibits at IAC 2024, the World's Largest Space Event, Demonstrating its Expansion into the Global Space Market |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3493519 |website=Korea Herald |access-date=20 February 2025}}
TelePIX and SatRev signed a deal with POLSA, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute to cooperate on the design of the camera, as well as sending the imagery data to both the South Korean and Polish governments.{{cite web |title=TelePIX, South Korean Startup, Signs Deal to Provide Earth Observation Imagery Data from its BlueBon Satellite |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telepix-south-korean-startup-signs-deal-to-provide-earth-observation-imagery-data-from-its-bluebon-satellite-301973472.html |website=PR Newswire |access-date=20 February 2025}}
Payload
The main payload of BlueBon is a 3.8-meter multi-spectral camera that can verify the amount and distribution of floating algae which can then be used to calculate the absorbed carbon in the water.{{cite web |last1=Jong-Hyun |first1=Lee |title=Telepix launches the world's first blue carbon monitoring satellite BlueBon |url=https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-science/2025/02/05/K4WGXDBLPJE23CDKTMLKYK5S44/ |website=biz.chosun.com |access-date=20 February 2025}}{{cite web |title=RIDE! Reveals Official Mission Patch for Deep Blue RIDE! Launch Mission: A SatRev 6U-XL satellite aboard Falcon 9, Transporter-12 |url=https://www.ridespace.io/news/ride-reveals-official-mission-patch-for-deep-blue-ride-launch-mission-a-satrev-6u-xl-satellite-aboard-falcon-9-transporter-12 |website=Ridespace.io |access-date=20 February 2025}}
BlueBon also has an on-board AI processor called the "Tetraflex" based on a GPU. The processor was designed to eliminate carbon emissions and reduce data latency while still performing a high quality analysis.{{cite web |title=BlueBon Spacecraft |url=https://www.nanosats.eu/sat/bluebon |website=nanosats.eu |access-date=20 February 2025}}
Mission
BlueBon would be launched on January 14, 2025, on board the SpaceX Transporter-12 ride-share mission provided by RIDE!, being deployed on January 22, achieving communication with the ground station and beginning its mission.{{cite web |last1=Lentz |first1=Danny |title=SpaceX Transporter-12 launches more than 100 satellites |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/01/transporter-12/ |website=NASA Space Flight |access-date=20 February 2025}}
After the deployment of the satellite TeleFIX announced "through BlueBon, the Korean government will be able to produce more than 2,500 times the high-resolution analysis results compared to the mother-and-son detection service" and that they were in contact with the Saudi Arabian government for the sale of blue carbon monitoring data.{{cite web |last1=Ko |first1=Jaewon |title=Mission in full swing after initial satellite operation. Data sales negotiations with Saudi Arabia and others |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/en/it/11232893 |website=mk.co.kr |access-date=20 February 2025}}
References
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{{Orbital launches in 2025}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2025