NovaSAR-1, an all-British radar satellite, will track illegal shipping activity. It will also assume several other roles.
The satellite can take pictures of Earth’s surface in all kinds of weather. It can also take pictures when it is dark, i.e., during night-time.
NovaSAR-1 is undergoing final launch preparations at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. If everything goes according to plan, lift-off will be today, Sunday, 16th September 17:37 BST (16:37 UTC).
According to the makers of the radar satellite, SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Limited):
“NovaSAR-1 is a technology demonstration mission designed to test the capabilities of a new low-cost S-Band SAR platform.”
“The satellite was designed and manufactured by SSTL, with an S-Band SAR payload developed by Airbus Defence and Space in Portsmouth, UK and an Automatic Identification Receiver supplied by Honeywell Aerospace.”