Max Q: Another day, Another Delay and Pixxel’s Orbital Imagery Receives Investment from Google
Hyperspectral imagery startup, Pixxel, has raised $36 million in funding to expand its remote sensing and analytics capabilities. Additionally, tech giant Google has invested in the startup and is set to integrate Pixxel’s data with its Earth Engine, which provides access to Earth observation data from hundreds of sensors orbiting the planet. Google’s AI research team had already employed Pixxel’s hyperspectral data in agricultural applications before they became investors.
In other news, Boeing and NASA have announced further delays to the first crewed flight test of the Starliner capsule due to recent technical issues. The capsule was scheduled to fly two NASA astronauts on July 21 but a new launch date has not been provided. Boeing’s VP of commercial crew, Mark Nappi, assured the media that safety is always the priority, and the leadership will spend the next week ensuring the capsule is safe for flight.
While disappointing, the decision to delay the launch boasts the safety-first culture of Boeing’s human spaceflight programme, says a Boeing official. The company is proud to make the right choices for the safety of its astronauts.
The news comes amid a series of delays from other space-related projects for NASA and private companies such as SpaceX. However, as the industry moves forward, safety and quality are of utmost importance in ensuring a successful exploration of outer space.
