Space42, the Emirati operator formed from Yahsat and Bayanat, announced on January 15th successful communication with its newly launched Foresight-2 satellite. This synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload, provided by Finnish operator Iceye, was part of a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch carrying 131 payloads into sun-synchronous orbit on January 14th.
Iceye also confirmed contact with three additional SAR satellites launched on the same mission, expanding their constellation for government and commercial services. All four satellites offer 25-centimeter resolution imagery, unaffected by weather or lighting conditions.
The launch supports Space42's 2023 agreement with Iceye for at least five low Earth orbit (LEO) SAR satellites. While Iceye plans to deploy over 20 new satellites annually from 2025, the specifics of Space42's future acquisitions remain undisclosed.
Space42's commitment to SAR technology extends beyond this acquisition. In December, following the launch of Foresight-1, a joint venture with Iceye was announced to build SAR satellites within the UAE. Space42's new Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facilities and LEO mission operations center in Abu Dhabi are key to advancing the nation's SAR capabilities.
This partnership is a significant step towards enhancing Space42's artificial intelligence ambitions, enabling sophisticated analysis of SAR data. Backed by Mubadala, the UAE sovereign wealth fund, Space42 aims to integrate satellite communications with georeferenced data, crucial for emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles.
Beyond this initiative, Space42 operates six geostationary communications satellites, including Thuraya-4, recently launched by SpaceX. Further expansion includes two additional GEO satellites on order from Airbus, boosting broadband services across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Airbus is also contracted to deliver two more LEO satellites to Space42, although details remain confidential.