A At the age of eight, Laurent Escarrat received an astronomy book from his father. So when it came time to choose a career, those images came back to him vividly. A graduate with a doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Côte d'Azur, he became a specialist in Earth observation instruments from space. After working with Thales Alenia Space, he joined Sophia Engineering, where he became friends with his current business partner, Vincent David: "We both have an entrepreneurial spirit. I personally have a passion for space, and he has been running a company for 20 years. We decided to leverage these complementary experiences," explains the co-founder of Orus.

This startup's project, which is perfectly aligned with the new space movement and new commercial solutions in space, involves launching satellites into orbit capable of capturing highly precise images and extracting useful information for future clients. "This is thanks to hyperspectral imaging, which allows us to detail each pixel to reveal the chemical structure of materials. Currently, we're working with drones and refining our algorithms to process these images efficiently and quickly using AI. We're very excited because we'll be able to launch our first satellite into orbit next year!" says Vincent David, who has just completed a first round of funding, raising €5 million.

Satellite images for forward-thinking humans

“With high-resolution hyperspectral imaging, we can observe with great precision. It’s a bit like the image of a researcher in a white coat looking at a curve of peaks, like in the TV series CSI; spectroscopy allows us to break down the composition of matter in detail,” explains Laurent Escarrat with a laugh. After its first flight demonstrator, Orus plans to launch a small constellation of satellites with enhanced performance. Five, if all goes well, using a precise, miniaturized, and industrialized data acquisition process. What could be done with the collected images? “There are many civilian applications in the fields of environment and energy, but it also interests those involved in security and defense,” says Vincent David. Specifically, the solution is recommended for precision agriculture, to identify plants in fields and detect any early signs of disease. It also applies to soil type, when you want to know when to sow, fertilize, and water. In cities, it would be a tool to observe the ecological transition and inventory solar panel networks.

Strategic for the European Space Agency

Another possible option is to identify plastics, hydrocarbons, or industrial waste, both on land and in water, and of course, to trace the sources of pollution. The two partners have also earned the trust of major institutional players, as evidenced by their participation in the European Space Agency's Copernicus program, designed to monitor the health of the Earth. Inspired by the Egyptian pantheon, the name Orus is thus associated with a whole range of symbolism: "We removed the H from the god Horus to make it simpler to write," concludes Laurent Escarrat. "This eye was the inspiration for our logo, which also resembles a satellite. This image of a protective eye resonates with our missions of caring for the planet and ensuring the safety of individuals."