All you need to know about the UAE’s first Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite launch
It’s another massive leap for the UAE. The country has just launched its first Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite into orbit.
The launch took place last week to bolster Earth Observation capabilities, carried out by Bayanat AI PLC (ADX: BAYANAT), and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (ADX: Yahsat) in partnership with ICEYE.
The satellite has already established communication, and early routine operations are underway.
In a landmark achievement, the Bayanat-owned SAR satellite, in collaboration with Yahsat, was launched via integrator Exolaunch and successfully lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 11 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.
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As part of the Earth Observation Space Program, this satellite debuts the comprehensive SAR constellation that will deliver high-resolution, persistent monitoring solutions.
The satellite will use SAR technology, an active sensing system that illuminates the Earth’s surface and measures the reflected signal to generate high-resolution images.
Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR can capture images day and night, regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination. Compared to other new Space SAR satellite services, ICEYE’s radar antenna covers much larger geographical areas and provides higher-resolution images of smaller areas, providing more value to customers.
The satellite launch is the latest achievement from the ongoing partnership between Bayanat, Yahsat, and ICEYE. The constellation of LEO satellites will provide a consistent data stream for end-to-end solutions for SAR applications.
The orbiting satellites will revisit the Middle East more frequently, which means they will be able to provide timely and accurate geospatial insights critical for applications in disaster management, maritime surveillance, and smart mobility.
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