Satellite footprints

Capella Space SAR satellite constellation

Position:LEO
Manufacturer:Capella Space
Operator:Capella Space
Launch operators:Rocket Lab
 SpaceX
Launch vehicles:Electron
 Falcon 9
Launch date:
Expected lifetime:

Capella Space SAR satellite constellation

The Capella Space SAR satellite constellation is operated by Capella Space, a privately hold space start-up company that provides on-demand 50cm high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth observation imagery. The company is developing a constellation of 30 small Micro-satellites for easy access to frequent, timely and flexible information affecting dozens of industries worldwide.

Capella Space was established in 2016 and is based in San Francisco, California, USA. Their first commercial SAR satellite, Capella-1 (Denali or SpaceCap), was launched in 2018 with a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX.

On January 24th, 2021, the first two satellites of the Whitney constellation, Capella-3 (Whitney-1) and Capella-4 (Whitney-2) were launched on the Falcon 9 Transporter-1 Ride-share mission conducted by SpaceX.

On May 16th, 2021, the Capella-6 (Whitney-4) SAR satellite was launched as a Ride-share on the Starlink-28 mission, conducted by launch operator SpaceX, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

On June 30th, 2021 the Capella-5 (Whitney-3) satellite was launched as a Ride-share passenger on the Transporter-2 mission with the Falcon 9 launcher operated by SpaceX.

On January 13th, 2022 the Capella-7 (Whitney-5) and Capella-8 (Whitney-6) satellites were launched on the Transporter-3 Ride-share mission with the Falcon 9 launcher operated by SpaceX.

On August 10th, 2022 Capella introduced Acadia, the GEN3 of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. Acadia will boost radar bandwidth (500 MHz → 700 MHz), while also boosting resolution (slant range res @ 0.214m; ground range res @ 0.31m for standard look angles), and augmenting power by 40+% in its new fleet. Paired with the bandwidth boosts, the company will enable its customers to tap into more granular SAR imagery and see more details from space augmenting power by 40+% in its new fleet. Paired with the bandwidth boosts, Acadia will enable Capella’s customers to tap into more granular SAR imagery and see more details from space.

On March 16th, 2023 launch operator Rocket Lab delivered two all-weather radar Earth observation satellites (Capella-9 & -10) into orbit for Capella Space using an Electron launcher lifting off from Wallops Island, Virginia USA.  The launch was originally planned for March 11th but postponed due to bad weather and unfavorable upper-level winds.

Satellite Mission Launch Date Launcher Launch Operator
Capella-1 (Denali) SSO-A Mar 12th, 2018 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-2 (Sequoia) ‘I-Can’t-Believe-It-Is-Not-Optical’ Aug 31st, 2020 Electron Rocket Lab NZ
Capella-3 (Whitney-1) Transporter-1 Jan 24th, 2021 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-4 (Whitney-2) Transporter-1 Jan 24th, 2021 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-5 (Whitney-3) Transporter-2 June 30th, 2021 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-6 (Whitney-4) Starlink 28 May 16th, 2021 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-7 (Whitney-5) Transporter-3 Jan 13th, 2022 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-8 (Whitney-6) Transporter-3 Jan 13th, 2022 Falcon 9 SpaceX USA
Capella-9 ‘Stronger-Together’ Mar 16th, 2023 Electron Rocket Lab USA
Capella-10 ‘Stronger-Together’ Mar 16th, 2023 Electron Rocket Lab USA

 

 

Capella Space SAR satellite constellation

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