Fleet Space Technologies has announced an ongoing collaboration with Rio Tinto to advance exploration at its Rincon lithium project in Argentina.

Leveraging Fleet Space’s end-to-end exploration solution powered by space and AI, ExoSphere, Rio Tinto will develop 3D subsurface maps of the reservoir, basement depth, and brine influencing structures across 100 sq.km of the project’s salt flat and nearby subvolcanic structures.

“Rio Tinto and Fleet Space share a commitment to pioneering breakthrough technologies to make net-zero a reality,” Flavia Tata Nardini, Co-Founder & CEO of Fleet Space Technologies, says. “We are proud to deploy ExoSphere’s real-time multiphysics capabilities in support of Rio Tinto’s data-driven exploration for energy transition minerals. We look forward to bringing the latest innovations in spacetech, 3D multiphysics, and AI to unlock new insights, predictive capabilities, and sustainability benefits to advance the development of world-class operations globally.”

The Rincon lithium project represents a significant potential source of battery-grade lithium carbonate necessary for the global energy transition. Rio Tinto’s deployment of Exosphere at scale across the project reflects its commitment to using innovative technologies to enhance exploration, decarbonise value chains and develop the Rincon lithium project to the highest ESG standards, Fleet Space says.

ExoSphere’s end-to-end capabilities enable real-time 3D Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) data acquisition and processing by Fleet Space’s satellite network to deliver actionable 3D subsurface insights in days with near-zero environmental impact.

The end-to-end architecture pioneered by Fleet Space’s mineral exploration solution, ExoSphere, integrates the latest advances in space technology, 3D multiphysics and AI to map mineral systems in real-time. Edge computing in ExoSphere’s smart seismic sensors enable real-time transmission and processing of high-quality 3D data by Fleet Space’s satellite network, delivering actionable 3D subsurface insights up to 5 km in depth and targeting recommendations to customers around the world.

By streamlining data acquisition, processing, integration and delivery of AI-enabled 3D insights into a single end-to-end solution, ExoSphere simplifies data operations, enhances the quality and speed of decision making and helps to minimise environmental footprint across the lifecycle of a project, the company says.