AI-powered geospatial solutions company Bayanat and Yahsat, the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, have launched the UAE’s first Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite into orbit.
In partnership with ICEYE, a company working in SAR satellite operations for earth observation, persistent monitoring, and natural catastrophe solutions, the satellite was launched via integrator Exolaunch and lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 11 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.
“Inaugurating, our Earth Observation capabilities, including the debut of our SAR satellite constellation, will further strengthen our position as a leader in AI-powered geospatial analytics. Our ongoing partnership with ICEYE, building on our shared ambition with Yahsat, continues to prove invaluable, enabling us to leverage space insights for informed decision-making on Earth,” said Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat.
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, it was shared.
SAR can capture images day and night, regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination.
“The successful launch of our SAR satellite is a testament to the synergies between Bayanat and Yahsat as we press ahead with the anticipated merger to form Space42,” said Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat.
“The SAR satellite constellation to be launched over the next 3 years will enable us to expand as a multi-orbit satellite operator, encompassing Geostationary Orbit and Low Earth Orbit satellites while also developing satellite manufacturing capabilities in the UAE,” he added.
Last year, the Earth Observation Space Program was created to build national satellite remote sensing and Earth Observation capabilities within the UAE by building a SAR satellite constellation.
The constellation of LEO satellites will provide a consistent data stream for end-to-end solutions for SAR applications, covering the entire value chain.
The orbiting satellites will revisit the Middle East more frequently, enabling Bayanat and Yahsat to deliver near real-time, high-definition images of on-the-ground conditions across the region and beyond, the two shared.
This, they said, enhances their ability tocompanies’imely and accurate geospatial insights, critical for applications in disaster management, maritime surveillance, and smart mobility.