Hydrosat Secures Contract with NRO for Thermal Imagery Evaluation
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 12, 2023

Hydrosat, a leader in thermal infrared data and analytics, has announced a significant advancement in its operations. The company has been awarded a 2.5-year contract by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), under the Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Commercial Electro-Optical Capabilities (CEC) Focus Area. This contract represents a key collaboration between Hydrosat, known for its geospatial intelligence capabilities in climate, food security, and environmental monitoring, and the NRO, a critical U.S. agency responsible for the nation's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites.

Under this new contract, Hydrosat will engage in the evaluation of high-resolution thermal imagery from its planned satellite constellation. The aim is to assess the potential application of Hydrosat's commercial remote sensing technology across a diverse range of use cases, reflecting the NRO's interest in expanding its commercial and defense capabilities through innovative technologies.

Pieter Fossel, CEO and co-founder of Hydrosat, expressed pride in being selected for this prestigious contract. "NRO operates the nation's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites and is assessing commercial thermal imagery as a potential tool for expanding its commercial and defense capabilities," Fossel stated. He further emphasized confidence in Hydrosat's data frequency and high-resolution thermal monitoring as a cutting-edge commercial addition to the NRO's overhead architecture.

This NRO contract is the latest achievement for Hydrosat, which has seen rapid growth recently. After closing a $20 million Series A earlier this year, the company expanded its technological reach by acquiring IrriWatch, the world's most advanced irrigation management software. This acquisition aligns with Hydrosat's mission to provide critical data for commercial growers. Additionally, in the defense sector, Hydrosat had previously received a grant from the U.S. Air Force to adapt its surface temperature data for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center's mission needs.

The partnership between Hydrosat and the NRO is a testament to the growing significance of thermal imagery and high-resolution satellite data in both commercial and defense applications. Hydrosat's expertise in leveraging daily surface temperature data and analytics for diverse applications, combined with the NRO's role in national security and intelligence gathering, signifies a potent synergy in enhancing capabilities through advanced remote sensing technology.

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