Ursa Space Systems

Spruce Pine, a town of around 2,200 residents in western North Carolina, is among the many communities grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Despite its small size, this town plays a vital role in global technology, supplying the world’s largest deposit of high-purity quartz—essential for manufacturing semiconductors, solar panels, and fiber-optic cables. Operations at the quartz mine were suspended on September 26, and the disruption not only affects industries dependent on quartz but also poses a significant challenge for the local economy. With three-quarters of the town connected to the mine, the town supervisor highlighted the challenges ahead: “If there is no cash in, especially in a county with as many people on the poverty scale as we have already, we are going to have a really difficult fall and winter if that doesn’t happen quickly,” he told The Washington Post. Using satellite imagery, Ursa Space assessed flooding surrounding the facility. We’ll continue to monitor the area as repairs progress. Read more in the article below: https://hubs.la/Q02SrmJF0

Looking to be part of a cutting-edge team transforming how the world sees and analyzes data? Ursa Space is excited to announce new job openings in our dynamic and growing company! Program Manager – NGA (Remote) Collections Assistant II Tues-Sat shift (Remote) Apply today or share with someone you know. Visit our careers page to learn more and apply. https://hubs.la/Q02R8m0G0

In our latest article, we revisit how China’s crude oil inventories can act as a potential early warning indicator of preparations for military action. By leveraging Ursa Space’s Global Oil Inventories dataset, we gain insights into storage patterns, helping us to detect consistent builds and when utilization rates exceed historical norms. But is this enough to conclude China is stockpiling? That depends on what’s driving the inventory increase. We explore the role of imports and how, together with inventory data, they can reveal China’s stockpiling intentions. Read on to understand these signals and how they connect to broader geopolitical risks. https://hubs.la/Q02R7Kg20

We’re honored to be selected by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) with the opportunity to provide data analytics in support of national security objectives. After years of delivering global oil inventory data, the Luno A contract will allow us to further expand our contributions. Looking forward to assisting this vital mission over the next five years. https://hubs.la/Q02Qb5FJ0

In our China Risk series, we’ve explored how energy stockpiling can signal preparations for military activity and how satellite imagery can help monitor developments on the ground. After examining crude oil inventories, we now turn to another crucial commodity—coal—which remains vital to China’s economy. Despite a shifting energy mix, domestic coal production continues to rise to meet growing demand, with plans to expand capacity even further. Read our latest article to dive deeper into China’s coal market and stay informed on the latest developments. https://hubs.la/Q02Pxy9_0

In our ongoing series, we've been examining how China's stockpiling efforts might indicate broader military preparations. Our latest article focuses on underground oil storage, highlighting its potential to enhance the size and resiliency of China's energy reserves. We also explore how satellite-based analytics can monitor these critical developments. https://hubs.la/Q02MmF_R0

The Ohio River Paddlefest attracts around 2,000 participants each year for a 9-mile journey past downtown Cincinnati in canoes, kayaks, and other human-powered watercraft. What does the nation’s largest paddling celebration look like in satellite imagery? The answer may surprise you. We collaborated with Umbra to capture an image using one of their satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR)—a powerful sensor that works day and night, through all weather conditions. SAR’s unique capabilities go even further, allowing it to detect objects in motion, including something as small as a kayak just a few meters in length. There's a type of image processing that generates color images from SAR to highlight moving objects that would otherwise be difficult to detect. In this case, small watercraft show up as streaks. The scenarios where this technology proves valuable are quite different from Paddlefest—illegal fishing and trafficking come to mind. For now, however, let’s turn our attention back to the Ohio River to illustrate this technique, known as Color Sub-Aperture Image (CSI) generation. The GIF below displays a SAR image captured on the day of the event, with and without the CSI tool applied. Can you spot the difference? What do you think are some scenarios where this technique could be useful?

In our latest article, we dive into how satellite-based analytics can effectively detect the construction of cross-border pipelines. This is the third installment of our series on how to monitor China’s energy sector for signs of military preparations. Read the full article to understand the importance of China’s pipeline infrastructure and the potential warning signals. https://hubs.la/Q02J4gqn0

In our latest article, we explore the significance of oil inventory levels in China from a global security perspective and identify signs that could indicate stockpiling is underway. This piece is part of a series connecting the dots between China’s energy sector and potential military preparations. We also explain how satellite-based analytics can be used to detect these warning signals. Read the full article to learn more: https://hubs.la/Q02H7pPp0

What economic indicators should be monitored to detect signs of China preparing for military conflict? This critical question was addressed at a recent Congressional hearing by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. One expert who testified, Gabriel Collins of the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies (CES), provided an in-depth look at the critical role energy plays in modern warfare. He highlighted that the production and stockpiling of energy resources, such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas, can reveal clues that China might be preparing for conflict. Ursa Space, mentioned by Collins in his testimony, provides satellite-based data that can be used to effectively monitor China for these warning signals. In a series of articles, we will explore this topic, discussing in greater detail the different signals and how they can be monitored, starting today with an overview. https://lnkd.in/eq2y852m