"We see EARS as an important step for Stellar Exploration and for the Czech space sector – a shift from subcontracting to our own data service. Thanks to InCubed and the support of CzechInvest, we can move faster towards our first satellite and commercial operation," says Jakub Ševeček, CEO of Stellar Exploration.

CzechInvest's role in project preparation

An important part of the preparation was the support from ESA Commercialisation AmbassadorCzechia at CzechInvest, who worked closely with the Stellar Exploration team to develop a business strategy and provided key input during the preparation of the project application. Their mentoring contributed to the successful evaluation of the EARS project under the ESA InCubed program and helped align the commercial strategy with the priorities of the Czech Republic.

"Given that the InCubed program places extraordinary emphasis on commercial viability, we focused with the Stellar Exploration team on the business case when preparing the EARS project application and worked together to fine-tune the so-called InCubed Pitch. In the Czech Republic, we act as a local facilitator between ESA and companies and help projects pass the demanding evaluation process. We are pleased that, thanks to our contribution, Stellar Exploration's technological excellence and strong business case team have succeeded," says David Hladík, ESA Commercialization Ambassador from the CzechInvest agency.

GNSS radio occultation is a method of remote sensing of the Earth using navigation signals from GPS, Galileo, or GLONASS satellite systems. Satellites in low orbit capture these signals as they pass through the atmosphere, where they are bent due to changes in the density of the environment.

The measured data can then be used to derive vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, air humidity, and electron density in the ionosphere. The data obtained in this way is used primarily in meteorology, numerical weather prediction models, and climate research.

Data processing directly in orbit

A key innovation of the EARS project is the processing of measured data directly on board the satellite. While conventional radio occultation systems send raw data for ground processing, EARS evaluates the data in orbit and transmits the final atmospheric data to Earth, ready for immediate use. This approach allows results to be delivered to customers within 30 minutes of measurement, significantly increasing their operational value for weather forecasting and other climate services.

The technology developed by Stellar Exploration includes an advanced Precise Orbit Determination (POD) system with a relative velocity accuracy of up to 0.1 mm/s.

This level of accuracy is essential for processing radio occultation data directly in orbit and ranks EARS among the most technologically advanced approaches in the field of GNSS radio occultation.

The ESA InCubed (Investing in Industrial Innovation) program is an initiative of the European Space Agency aimed at supporting commercially viable projects in the field of Earth observation. Since its launch in 2018, it has supported more than 180 activities with a total investment exceeding €130 million (as of December 2025). The program enables cooperation between ESA, national delegations, and private companies while maintaining full intellectual property ownership on the part of the recipient of the support.

Advancing the Czech space sector

The EARS project represents a step forward for the Czech space industry from subcontracting roles towards building its own systems and commercial operation of data services. Stellar Exploration is developing a model that includes the operation of a satellite constellation and the sale of atmospheric data to customers in the field of meteorology and climate services.

CzechInvest, as the national innovation agency, has long supported the development of the Czech space industry. In addition to its role as ESA Commercialisation Ambassador Czechia, it also operates ESA BIC Czech Republic (Business Incubation Centre), which since 2016 has been helping start-up entrepreneurs transform space technologies into commercial applications.