Umbra-SAR 2001

Umbra-SAR 2001 [Umbra Lab]

Umbra Lab of California is developing the Umbra-SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite constellation.

The first satellite, Umbra-SAR 2001, is a 50 kg satellites are equipped with a X-band SAR (synthetic apperture radar) to capture snapshot imagery with a resolution of 25 centimeters over a 16 square km area. The mission is to test technologies and designs, validate performance, and progress into a fully operational architecture. To collect radar imagery Umbra has developed a proprietary antenna technology allowing for relatively low power operation to achieve high quality SAR images.

Technology developments being tested include:

• Deployable high gain mesh antenna developed by Umbra
• Radar and radio electronics developed by Umbra
• Novel thermal management systems
• Electrical and power systems
• Mission Concept-of-Operations
• Function of integrated space-ground system
• Radar image formation utilizing full ITU bandwidth allocation of 1,200 MHz

It was planned to be launched on the Transporter-1 mission on a Falcon-9 v1.2 (Block 5) ride-share mission, but was delayed to a later launch.