Space-ng Launches Sol3 Computer Vision Kit for Spacecraft Developers
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles, CA (SPX) Aug 13, 2025
Space-ng has unveiled a cutting-edge Hardware Development Kit (HDK) designed for its innovative Sol3 Vision System, targeted specifically at spacecraft developers. This launch is complemented by a free Software Development Kit (SDK), enabling evaluations, academic investigations, and non-commercial experimentation. This open architecture strategy aims to democratize access to advanced computer vision technology for universities, startups, and aerospace companies.
The Sol3 ecosystem, encompassing both hardware and software components, will be prominently featured at the 39th Annual Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, occurring from August 10-13, 2025, at Booth #2437. Attendees can engage directly with Space-ng’s Co-Founder and Chief Engineer, Steve Bailey, to learn more about the system’s capabilities.
One of the standout elements of the Sol3 Vision System is its robust Vision Navigation System (VNS) software, previously used successfully in Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1. This software is specifically designed for terrain-relative navigation, hazard detection, and attitude determination. The Sol3 Vision System has passed rigorous spaceflight qualification testing, with initial flight hardware expected for delivery in Q3 2025.
At the heart of Sol3 is a powerful, low-SWAP (Size, Weight, and Power) Base Unit that can manage up to 12 high-resolution Camera Modules. This system is not only user-programmable but also supports hardware-accelerated image processing for various applications such as optical navigation, autonomous rendezvous, lunar landing, servicing, and enhancing space situational awareness.
The HDK offered by Space-ng allows engineers to prototype and test their designs rapidly, whether in laboratory settings or field environments. Importantly, this kit mirrors the functionality of flight hardware but is constructed using commercially available components. Priced at $5,000 for the Base Unit and $1,000 for each Camera Module (with power supply and harnesses included), it offers a cost-effective solution for developers.
By integrating the HDK with the SDK, engineers have the flexibility to rapidly deploy autonomy prototypes in environments that simulate actual flight conditions. They can run complete workflows from a laptop and validate mission operations and requirements early in the development phase. The compute and sensor architecture closely resembles that of both the educational and flight units, facilitating smoother transitions through various design and review phases.
Bailey emphasized that the primary distinction between the HDK and flight units lies in the use of commercial connectors and non-space-grade components. This approach allows teams to commence development swiftly, building confidence as they progress toward system integration.
Ethan Rublee, CEO and Co-Founder, highlighted the robust features of the SDK. It incorporates the very same software that Space-ng utilizes for its lunar navigation and landing operations, granting partners access to cutting-edge tools including GPU resources, neural accelerators, high-resolution imaging technologies, integrated IMUs, and modern development platforms like C++20, Linux, and open-source tools such as GTSAM, OpenCV, and PyTorch.
Orders for the Sol3 HDK have officially commenced, with expected shipments as early as September 2025. The Base Unit is equipped with a Qualcomm-based System on Chip (SoC), four integrated IMUs, closed-loop heater control, RS-422 I/O support, floodlight options, and the ability to connect with up to 12 Camera Modules, each weighing only 150 grams.
Notably, the Sol3’s software-defined, open-architecture framework supports various stages of spacecraft operations, from initial design and testing to live mission execution. The system accommodates real-time simulation, command and telemetry capabilities, over-the-air updates, and ground support mechanisms. Firefly Aerospace’s Chief Engineer, Will Coogan, underscored the importance of Space-ng’s software in executing precise lunar landings, effectively avoiding obstacles like rocks and craters.
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