Microsoft boosts Azure Space with Airbus partnership

Microsoft has expanded its Azure Space offering with a new  Airbus partnership, and is now offering general availability of satellite and elevation data with Azure Maps.

Airbus will add SPOT, Pléiades, and Pléiades Neo satellite imagery and WorldDEM4Ortho elevation data into Azure Maps, Microsoft announced.

“We are thrilled to be a part of the Microsoft Azure community. Azure Maps users, eager for accurate and top-quality imagery, will be able to rely on Airbus’ premium data services to develop new applications and turn their innovative ideas into reality,” stated François Lombard, Director of the Intelligence Business at Airbus Defense and Space.

Microsoft touted the ability to use Cognitive Services like Custom Vision to create ML models for satellite imagery. One current initiative with Airbus involves mapping wetlands to better understand carbon fixation.

“Microsoft Azure, combined with the power of Airbus’ high-quality imagery, allows customers to develop new solutions to their problems through premium satellite imagery and data services,” stated Steve Kitay, Senior Director of Azure Space at Microsoft.

Micrsoft announced the launch of Azure Space in October 2020 in a bid to support the worldwide space industry. In October 21, Space expanded to Australia through a partnership with Nokia and the South Australian government.

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Photo by NASA on Unsplash