Sharjah24 – Reuters: A group of heat-sensing satellites are about to be launched into Earth orbit, using unique infrared cameras that can measure heat emissions from any building on the planet, according to The Guardian.”
The project, run by British space company Satellite Vu, will act as the planet’s ‘energy meter’ by selling heat data to organizations looking to cut wasted energy and power bills, searching out badly insulated offices, homes and factories in order to identify where most waste occurs and clarify if attempted improvements have been successful.
More widely, the heat data could be used to help monitor river pollution from factories, and tech site TechCrunch suggests it can also help find warmer or cooler areas that suggest underground water, power lines or other heat-affecting objects.
Satellite Vu’s chief executive adds that while currently it is only possible to make broad surveys of heat being emitted in a neighborhood, Satellite Vu satellites will be able to study individual buildings.
The first of a total seven satellites will be launched this week on a Falcon 9 rocket operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, according to The Guardian.