The Bahrain Space Agency (BSA) has launched its first specialised payload for cloud detection and identification of satellite imagery using artificial intelligence, on board a joint Oman-China satellite.
A group of BSA engineers worked together to design, develop and test advanced AI algorithms, which are being implemented on board a satellite operating in low Earth orbit.
“The initiative stands as a major achievement for the organisation, reinforcing Bahrain’s status as a frontrunner in the space sector following the vision of His Majesty King Hamad,” BSA chief executive Dr Mohammed Al Aseeri noted.
“The project also underscores BSA’s international partnerships and the technical and scientific expertise of its staff, which have been instrumental in making this distinguished collaboration possible.”
The payload is part of a collaborative satellite project between Oman and China, developed in partnership with Chinese firm Star Vision and Omani company Oman Lens.
The OL-1 satellite, now operating in low Earth orbit, uses real-time image processing to detect and estimate cloud coverage in satellite images.
The AI algorithms can then reconstruct cloud-covered sections using archived data, ensuring cleaner and more accurate imagery is sent to ground stations.
This data will be used across multiple sectors, including urban planning, environmental monitoring and maritime tracking.
When the collaboration was first announced last year, the BSA noted that the project aims to develop advanced AI algorithms for immediate analysis of satellite-captured images, extracting valuable data for various applications such as urban planning, air and water quality measurement, ship detection, and other space applications.
These algorithms are designed to significantly reduce the size of satellite images while maintaining clarity and accuracy, thus saving storage space and enhancing data transmission speed in space.
The project aims to build national capacity in the field of AI algorithm development, enhancing local competencies and consolidating Bahrain’s position as a regional hub for space innovation.
“This project is among several initiatives designed to strengthen Bahrain’s expertise in developing and integrating AI algorithms with satellite systems,” space engineer Yaqoob Al Qassab added.
“The technical team involved serves as the core of a dedicated Bahraini group focused on applying AI technology in space to support sustainable development goals.
“The team is now engaged in a new collaborative project with the same partners, targeting the deployment of advanced algorithms for automated maritime vessel detection from space.”
The project marks Bahrain’s first official co-operation with Oman in the space sector and is the third Arab-Chinese space collaboration, following earlier joint efforts between Bahrain, Egypt and China on lunar missions.
The OL-1 is the first in a constellation of satellites aimed at providing Oman with advanced Earth observation capabilities.
It was launched in November last year on a Chinese Kinetica-1 solid rocket, and in December 2024, Oman Lens signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory on the China-led International Lunar Research Station.
In March this year, Bahrain launched its first completely locally made satellite ‘Al Munther’ into space on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 from the American Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
It featured four locally-developed payloads, including a medium resolution space camera, AI-based image processing, cybersecurity module and a unique radio transmission payload, which broadcast Bahrain’s national anthem and a message from His Majesty King Hamad which can be decoded and received by amateur radio enthusiasts and satellite receiving stations around the world.
‘Al Munther’ was the first in the region to use AI to analyse and filter images onboard.
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