Dauria Aerospace Launches Two Perseus-M Maritime Surveillance Satellites to Monitor Open Seas and Navigable Waterways Across the Northern Hemisphere

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., June 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dauria Aerospace, a multinational aerospace company providing global satellite-based remote sensing information services has successfully delivered two Perseus-M spacecraft into low earth orbit. These satellites will be combined with Dauria's DX1 spacecraft and eight Perseus-O imaging satellites to form the Perseus space monitoring and remote sensing constellation. The maritime segment of the Perseus constellation will track and monitor vessels in open seas and navigable waterways in the United States, Canada, Northern Europe and Russia.

"The launch of the Perseus-M satellites marks a significant achievement for Dauria," says Mike Kokorich, founder and president at Dauria Aerospace. "Once established, the maritime segment of the constellation will provide valuable vessel traffic information to a range of users from captains and ship-owners to coast guard and search and rescue services in the Northern Hemisphere."

The two Perseus-M maritime-surveillance satellites were launched on June 19^th aboard a Dnepr rocket. Canopus Systems, a Mountain View, CA based affiliate of Dauria, developed these satellites which feature a proprietary microsatellite platform and are equipped with commercially oriented experimental Automatic Identification System (AIS) payloads.

"We are confident in the commercial success of the constellation," continues Kokorich.  "Prior to DX1 launch, we reached an agreement with the Russian Ministry of Transportation for the development of AIS services. At this time, Russia does not maintain any space assets with AIS capabilities and can only monitor maritime traffic less than about 43 miles from its shoreline. We expect this partnership to lead to agreements with multiple companies based in North America and Europe."

The next segment of the constellation involves launching a DX1 small satellite, which is awaiting launch aboard a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from Baikonur in early July. The Perseus constellation will be the first commercial space monitoring and remote sensing satellite constellation with a Russian private component. The DX1 platform permits future utilization of the satellite for Earth remote sensing and various scientific purposes. Perseus-M satellites will also perform testing of the satellite platform for Perseus-O medium resolution optical satellites that are scheduled for launch in 2015.

About Dauria Aerospace
Dauria Aerospace is a multinational aerospace company providing global satellite-based remote sensing information services through the deployment of small satellite constellations. The company develops and manufactures low-cost small satellites to bring Earth imaging data directly to its customers. Additionally, by using design innovation and leveraging the rapid technology advances in smallsat components, Dauria develops lower-cost, higher performing satellites. Dauria is headquartered in Munich and has two satellite development centers at NASA Research Park at Ames Research Center in California and in Skolkovo, Russia. For more information, visit www.dauriaspace.com.

SOURCE Dauria Aerospace