An active radar imaging technique that synthesizes a large antenna aperture from the satellite's motion to produce high-resolution images day or night, through clouds.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active microwave imaging technique. Instead of relying on reflected sunlight, a SAR satellite illuminates the ground with radar pulses and reconstructs an image by coherently combining returns gathered along the satellite's flight path — effectively synthesizing a very large antenna aperture. The result: imagery that works at night, through clouds, and through smoke.
SAR has gone from niche government capability to a commercial product. ICEYE, Capella, Umbra, and Synspective have shown sub-1m commercial SAR is viable. The all-weather, day/night property is uniquely valuable for maritime monitoring, conflict, disaster response, and infrastructure tracking.
Designs, manufactures, and operates X-band synthetic aperture radar satellites delivering sub-meter resolution Earth observation imagery in all weather conditions.
Governs China's civil space programs, oversees lunar and planetary exploration missions, and coordinates international space cooperation
Operates orbital transfer vehicles for last-mile satellite delivery, hosted payload services, space cloud computing, and in-orbit servicing.
Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight
Builds multi-sensor imaging satellites that fuse SAR and optical data in a single pass for all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation
Designs, manufactures, and operates LEO broadband communication and remote sensing satellites for constellation deployment and satellite internet services
Manufactures and operates the world's largest synthetic aperture radar satellite constellation, providing persistent Earth observation data and natural catastrophe analytics.
India's national space agency developing launch vehicles, satellites, and interplanetary missions for societal benefit
Japan's national space agency conducting launch operations, satellite development, Earth observation, asteroid exploration, and human spaceflight research
Designs and manufactures satellite systems, orbital robotics, and geointelligence platforms for government, defense, and commercial space operators worldwide.
Conducts civilian space exploration, aeronautics research, and space science across human spaceflight, robotic missions, and Earth observation programs
Provides satellite communications, geospatial intelligence, and positioning services as Saudi Arabia's PIF-backed national space services company
Five research aircraft will support a Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) mission out of Ellington Field in Houston. Flights are expected from Wednesday, June 3 to Saturday, June 13. During the mission, select maneuvers will be conducted at low altitudes over the Houston area. Pilots will fly remote sensing payloads in raster patterns, or parallel back-and-forth lines. The instruments flown could help […]
One of the most powerful radar systems ever launched into space has mapped the ground moving beneath one of the fastest subsiding capitals in the world: Mexico City. The findings show how quickly and reliably the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite can track real-time changes across Earth's surface from orbit, unhindered by clouds or vegetation that impede optical sensors and higher-frequency radars.