ICEYE expands SAR constellation with four new satellites

ICEYE expands SAR constellation with four new satellites
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Aug 17, 2024

ICEYE, a global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operations, has successfully launched four new SAR satellites, further expanding the world's largest SAR constellation. The launch took place on August 16, 2024, aboard SpaceX's Transporter-11 Rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. The satellites, integrated via Exolaunch, have already established communication and have begun early operational routines.

These satellites will support both ICEYE's commercial operations and dedicated customer missions. They were manufactured by ICEYE in Finland and the United States. Notably, the launch includes the first ICEYE satellite for Bayanat, a provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat), the UAE's flagship satellite solutions provider. This launch is part of their previously announced Earth Observation Space Program.

"With frequent and steady deployment of new satellites into the ICEYE constellation, we are making progress towards our vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder of ICEYE. "The powerful and capable satellite constellation ensures fulfilling our commitments to working as a trusted partner with a growing number of governments and commercial industries to deliver timely, accurate, and actionable insights for faster and better decision-making. We are proud to launch the first ICEYE satellite for our customer Bayanat and Yahsat and look forward to continued successful cooperation on their missions."

Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat, commented, "The launch of our first satellite marks a highly anticipated milestone for both our collaborative efforts and for the UAE. This is a triumphant moment for Bayanat and a defining step toward our future as Space42. 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."

Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat, added, "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. 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. This significant step also solidifies our extensive experience and reaffirms our place as pioneers in the UAE's space sector and a significant player in the global SpaceTech industry."

"We are pleased to add more next-generation, U.S.-manufactured satellite capacity to the constellation. This further strengthens our capabilities to serve our customers with actionable data and insights," said Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US.

ICEYE operates the world's largest SAR satellite constellation, capable of imaging any location on Earth, day or night, under any weather conditions. SAR data from ICEYE's satellites provide precise, near real-time insights to government and commercial customers.

The company plans to launch up to 13 new satellites in 2024, with 10-15 additional satellites annually from 2025 onward. Earlier in March 2024, ICEYE successfully added three new satellites to its constellation, following the deployment of 10 satellites in 2023.