Loft Orbital Selected to Host NASA JPL AI Software on Earth Observation Satellites

Loft Orbital has been selected by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to host and operate demonstrations of artificial intelligence software designed for Earth science applications.

The effort is part of the Federated Autonomous MEasurement (FAME) project, funded by NASA's Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO).

Under the agreement, Loft will deploy JPL-developed AI software on its AI-enabled satellite infrastructure, with initial demonstrations beginning in June 2026.

Additional deployments are planned through 2028 on future Loft spacecraft.

The software is intended to support Earth observation missions by processing data directly in orbit, reducing reliance on ground-based analysis and shortening the time required to deliver information to end users.

Potential applications include monitoring wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters where rapid access to data is critical.

According to NASA and Loft, the demonstrations will test autonomous tasking capabilities that allow satellites to identify events and coordinate observations without human intervention. The missions will also utilize intersatellite communications links to enable rapid data transfer between spacecraft and ground systems.

Paul Lasserre, General Manager of AI for Space at Loft Orbital, said the collaboration demonstrates the growing role of on-orbit artificial intelligence and commercial space infrastructure in supporting Earth science missions.

Image Credits: Loft Orbital