HEO

High Earth Orbit Robotics (HEO) is an Australian space technology company that provides satellite imagery services.HEO Robotics offers the following products and services:

HEO Inspect 2.0 Platform:

Non-Earth Imaging (NEI) Services: Allows customers to task in-orbit sensors to capture high-resolution images of space objects. The platform provides detailed analysis of in-orbit objects such as satellites and debris, delivering images with resolutions up to 7.5 cm/pixel

Analytics Services: Uses AI and machine learning to process imaging opportunities, detect satellites, and streamline data analysis for near real-time monitoring

The company planned to increase the number of sensors from 30+ (as of June 2024) in low Earth orbit to over 1,000 sensors across all orbital regimes by 2027, with geostationary orbit (GEO) coverage expected by 2025.

Use cases for HEO Robotics' monitoring and analysis solutions include monitoring satellites, space debris, and conducting asteroid missions, providing monitoring services for others, generating revenue from unused Earth imaging satellite time, and providing a valuable maintenance service all at the same time. It was also expected to significantly reduce the cost of asteroid exploration missions from over USD 500 million to USD 1 million–2 million per asteroid by 2029.

The company claims to be the first private company to provide in-orbit satellite inspection services.

Key customers and partnerships

The company serves clients across the defense, government (UK and US), and private sectors, providing solutions for space observation and monitoring.

In February 2024, the company partnered with Impulse Space, a developer of in-space transportation services for satellites, to improve non-Earth imaging capabilities by hosting HEO's in-space imager, HOLMES-007, aboard Impulse's Mira orbital transfer vehicle to address non-Earth imaging coverage challenges and provide valuable imagery.

Key competitors: None comparable (HEO is the only space intelligence provider that we have identified that focuses on Non-Earth Imaging [NEI] and analysis services).