SAR

NRO plans for immediate and long-term acquisition of commercial satellite data
The National Reconnaissance Office has issued contracts to satisfy immediate needs for commercial satellite data, while drafting requirements to bring commercial capabilities into an integrated architecture that includes classified U.S. government systems.

Capella raises $97 million to expand radar constellation
Capella Space raised $97 million in a Series C investment round.

Capella unveils automated tasking products
Capella Space unveiled three products April 14 that automate tasking of the company’s constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.

Synspective raises $100 million Series B round
Japanese startup Synspective announced March 29 it raised $100 million to continue its development of a constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.

Ursa Space raises $16 million in Series C round
Ursa Space, a geospatial and analytics company, raised $16 million in a Series C round led by Dorilton Ventures.

Canada answers Ukraine’s call for satellite radar imagery
Canada’s MDA Corp. will provide satellite radar imagery to Ukraine’s government to help it counter Russia’s invasion of that country. Canadian government sources say that RADARSAT-2 will be used to collect the data.

“Nothing to share”: South Korean firm turns down Ukrainian request for satellite imagery
South Korea’s Earth observation company SI Imaging Services (SIIS) turned down a request to share satellite imagery of Ukraine and neighboring countries to assist Ukrainian efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.

EOS Data Analytics issues urgent plea for imagery of Ukraine
EOS Data Analytics is asking Earth observation companies around the world to share up-to-date optical and radar satellite imagery of Ukraine.

Iceye raises $136 million in Series D round
Iceye raised $136 million in a Series D investment round led by Seraphim Space.

Iceye to provide satellite for MDA radar constellation
Canada’s MDA is acquiring an X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite from Iceye that will be part of its Chorus system intended to replace Radarsat-2.

China’s SAR satellite surge continues with new constellation plan
A new Chinese constellation for disaster prevention, early warning and natural resource monitoring will bring yet more players into developing small synthetic aperture satellites in the country.

NASA considers innovative business model for $500 million Earth Science campaign
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is soliciting information on how private sector innovation could help researchers make the most of a $500 million budget to obtain data on Earth’s changing surface.

Iceye and U.S. Army forge collaborative research pact
Iceye U.S. announced a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center.

Capella to work with U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center
Capella Space is working with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center to satisfy Army demand for Earth observation with rapid tasking and delivery of synthetic-aperture radar data.

Iceye officially joins Copernicus Earth-observation Program
Iceye won a contract to provide data from its constellation of small synthetic-aperture radar satellites to Copernicus, the European Union program aimed at providing continuous, global Earth observation.

National Reconnaissance Office releases solicitation for commercial space radar imagery
The National Reconnaissance Office on Oct. 12 published its first solicitation for commercial space radar imagery.

NGA plans annual survey of international Earth imagery leaders
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency plans to conduct an annual assessment of commercial satellite imagery like the Olympic-themed evaluation the organization conducted earlier this year.


Analyst uses radar imagery to shed additional light on Chinese missile sites
Based on intelligence from SAR imagery, Lewis concluded that the Chinese are building a large wind turbine farm presumably to power missile silos.

NRO to tap commercial industry for space-based radar data
The director of the National Reconnaissance Office Christopher Scolese announced Oct. 7 the agency will start buying space radar imagery from commercial providers.