The demand for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellations is expanding, driven by growing needs in both the public and private sectors. In August, Finland-based Iceye launched four radar satellites, while Japan’s Synspective launched its fifth SAR satellite. U.S.-based Capella Space also added two satellites to its constellation.

National security and defense organizations remain the primary consumers of SAR imagery and data. "From a national security perspective, our systems are used seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a continuous basis," stated Frank Backes, CEO of Capella Space, during the World Space Business Week in Paris on September 20.

Capella's recently launched satellites were rapidly calibrated and brought online. Capella was determined to demonstrate to defense clients that new satellites can be operational within "a couple of days rather than weeks, months, or even longer," Backes emphasized.

Civil government agencies and businesses are increasingly recognizing the value of SAR, which provides data regardless of time of day, weather conditions, or cloud cover. In September, NASA announced plans to incorporate data from Iceye US into its Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition program. Prior to awarding Iceye a five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, NASA scientists evaluated how well Iceye's SAR data supported NASA Earth Science research.

Utilities, infrastructure companies, and government agencies are also turning to SAR to assist in detecting soil moisture. "Water where it shouldn't be is the number one reason for infrastructure failure," stated Jasmin Inbar, Asterra's vice president and head of Earth observation. Asterra applies algorithms to L-band SAR data to generate information products for insurance companies, infrastructure operators, and disaster-management agencies.

To attract new customers, Asterra requires access to more frequent observations. "There are only three L-band satellites operated by space agencies," Inbar noted. "To penetrate deeper into the defense market, we need higher revisit time."

Synspective, with funds raised in a recent Series C round, is scaling up satellite production, according to Synspective CEO Motoyuki Ara. The company aims to operate a constellation of 30 SAR satellites by the late 2020s.