NovaSAR: UK radar satellite returns first images

[Judi Lynn]

By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent
23 November 2018



SSTL
Sydney Harbour: The famous bridge and opera house captured at night

Sydney Harbour and the Egyptian pyramids feature in the debut images from the first all-UK radar spacecraft.



NovaSAR was developed jointly by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited of Guildford and Airbus in Portsmouth, and launched to orbit in September.

Its pictures are now being assessed for use in diverse applications, including crop analysis, flood and forestry mapping, and maritime surveillance.

The intention ultimately is to fly a constellation of NovaSAR-like sats.

Such a network would enable repeat images of locations to be acquired more quickly - something that is important if changes detected in a scene require a rapid response. Reacting to an oil spill at sea would be a good example.

More:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46312874

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

1. Wow.