SANTA BARBARA, CA // UMBRA LAB: Umbra Lab, Inc. has quietly been developing the world’s leading next-generation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) microsatellite. We recently validated our core technology, tripled the size of our team, and are preparing for our first commercial launch.
Umbra’s unique technology, product quality, and radically different value proposition compelled us to limit sharing of many details regarding our core mission until now. After hardware qualification and testing milestones were met earlier this year Umbra is ready to announce the production and upcoming launch of multiple commercial satellites.
Umbra was created in 2015 when the founders recognized that a surge in demand and the breadth of applications for commercial space imagery data had far surpassed the scope of development in the sector. It was clear that commercial SAR could be fundamentally advanced in regards to both performance and capital efficiency. Umbra recognized an ability to leverage a powerful spacecraft payload with continuous industry improvement in launch and ground services to embark on a next-generation radar mission.
Radar is complicated. The key metric that indicates performance of a SAR satellite and resulting image quality is power aperture, which is the combination of the effective power and effective aperture area. Umbra’s SAR payload incorporates an incredibly powerful antenna and an efficient feed to reliably and efficiently produce large quantities of single-look, sub-meter SAR imagery. The form factor (sub-ESPA volume) and unrivaled power aperture of Umbra’s microsatellite allow us to keep product costs low while offering performance that is an order of magnitude above any currently available commercial SAR offering.
Umbra’s advancement in microsatellite and microwave technology has heavily influenced our business model. Our service is designed to empower customers to make better decisions in B2B and B2G industries. We seek to expand our customers’ business by partnering with and supporting their existing analytics approach/relationships. Umbra does this by offering direct sales of high-quality, low-cost data as a commercial service, rather than in providing image analytics as a business function.
Geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) firms deliver actionable intelligence to end-users. Umbra’s approach is to support the work of these specialists and their clients by providing data users with much-needed access to high quality, timely, and reliable satellite imagery.
As Umbra prepares for our first commercial launch, we have been building relationships across the GEOINT sector. If you would like to know more about Umbra, our technology, or products or join our team please contact us.