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 65 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

The payload can also be usilized to passively scan for RF activity (SIGINT).

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.