Bahrain Space Agency Launches Its First Payload to Detect and Identify Clouds Using Artificial Intelligence
As part of its efforts to localize advanced space technologies and advance space sciences in the Kingdom of Bahrain through pioneering projects and initiatives and the strengthening of international partnerships, the Bahrain Space Agency has announced the launch of its first specialized payload for detecting and identifying clouds in satellite images. This initiative utilizes advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and is being carried out in collaboration with China’s “Starvision” and Oman’s “Lens of Oman,” aboard a joint satellite between the Sultanate of Oman and the People’s Republic of China.
This landmark project involved the participation of top engineers from the Bahrain Space Agency in the design, development, and testing of advanced AI algorithms to be deployed on a satellite orbiting in low Earth orbit. The aim of the project is to build national capabilities in developing AI algorithms, thereby enhancing local expertise, fostering continuous innovation, and contributing to establishing Bahrain as a regional hub for space innovation.
These algorithms analyze satellite images in real time to detect and identify clouds, estimate their coverage within the images, and then automatically replace the cloud-covered sections with parts from previous images before transmitting the data to ground stations. This enhances the efficiency of space systems and improves the quality of extracted data, which is later used in a variety of applications such as urban planning, air and water quality assessment, ship tracking and identification, and other space-related uses that provide essential data to numerous public and private sector entities.
Commenting on this achievement, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Aseeri, CEO of the Bahrain Space Agency, stated:
“This project marks another milestone in the accomplishments of the Bahrain Space Agency and contributes to strengthening Bahrain’s position among leading nations in the space sector, in line with the vision of His Majesty the King, may God protect him. It is also a clear testament to the agency’s wide-ranging international partnerships, the technical progress made by its members, and the scientific and practical competencies that paved the way for this exceptional and high-value collaboration.”
Space engineer Yaqoub Al-Qassab added:
“This project is part of a series of initiatives aimed at building national capacity in the development and integration of AI algorithms with satellite components. The technical team behind the project forms the nucleus of a specialized Bahraini team focused on applying AI technologies in space, serving sustainable development goals. The team is currently working on another project with the same two companies to launch new algorithms into space for the automated detection of marine vessels.”
It is worth noting that this project represents the first Bahraini-Omani collaboration in the space sector, and the third Arab-Chinese space collaboration—following the earlier Bahraini-Egyptian-Chinese cooperation in lunar projects.
