Umbra SAR constellation: status and timeline

Milestones

Next · Build wide-area maritime next-generation satellites

NOAA lifts licence limits; 16 cm image released7 Aug 2023Complete.
Umbra-07 and -08 tandem pair launched (Transporter-9)9 Nov 2023Complete.
Umbra-09 and -10 launched on Transporter-1116 Aug 2024Complete.
Selected for STRATFI next-generation constellation8 Apr 2025Complete.
Moves into 50,000 sq ft factory, 4x production25 Jun 2025Complete.
Sole-source NRO radar contract (up to 3 years)5 Aug 2026Complete.
NOAA picks Umbra as a commercial SAR data provider17 Sep 2026Complete.
Build wide-area maritime next-generation satellitesNowCurrent milestone.

Most important updates

Current obstacles

Fleet size and revisitHow often a spot can be imaged depends on satellite count; Umbra does not publish its fleet size, and competitors fly more satellites.
Reliance on government buyersIts largest contracts are with the NRO and NOAA, so budgets and recompetes drive revenue.

Physics limits

Sharp or wide, not bothFine resolution needs the beam to dwell on one spot for longer, so the sharpest images cover the smallest areas; wide-area search uses coarser modes.
Radar is power-hungryThe satellite must supply its own illumination, and echo strength falls steeply with distance, so imaging time per orbit is limited by power and heat.

How it works

4 parts

Echoes

Imaging with radio echoes

The satellite sends microwave pulses and times the echoes; rough or metal surfaces echo brightly, calm water looks dark.

Synthetic aperture

A small antenna acting big

Combining echoes recorded along its path makes the satellite act like an antenna kilometres long, which is what gives fine detail from orbit.

Multi-look

Smoothing the grain

Longer stares give several looks at the same spot; averaging them reduces radar speckle so images are easier to read.

Open data

Free imagery for anyone

Umbra posts high-resolution radar data under a Creative Commons licence several times a week, including raw phase data.

Spec sheet

Spec	Umbra SAR constellation
Best released resolution	16 cm^R (reported)
Spotlight product resolutions	25 cm, 35 cm, 50 cm, 1 m^R (reported)
Images delivered to NRO (4 yrs)	100,000+^R (reported)
Manufacturing floor	50,000 sq ft^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

4 updates

About Umbra

The team behind Umbra SAR constellation

Umbra

SAR satellites, high-resolution radar imagery, open data

US company that builds and runs its own radar-imaging satellites in Santa Barbara, California. It sells sharp radar images that see through cloud and darkness to US intelligence, NOAA and commercial users.

Released a 16 cm radar image in 2023, which it called the sharpest commercial satellite image ever released.
Sole-source NRO contract (Aug 2026) and NOAA data contract (Sept 2026), after delivering 100,000+ images to NRO.
Builds satellites in-house in a 50,000 sq ft Santa Barbara factory; shares free imagery via an open data program.

umbra.space (opens umbra.space)Company profile →

Founded: 201511 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Works in: SpaceflightEarth observation
Coverage: 1 program · 4 updateslatest 24d agochecked 11 Oct
Customers: National Reconnaissance Office (opens umbra.space)NOAA (opens umbra.space)SpaceWERX (US Air Force) (opens umbra.space)
Partners: Maxar
Suppliers: SpaceX
People: David LanganCEO and co-founderGabe DominocieloCo-founder and presidentTodd MasterChief Operating Officer

Umbra SAR constellation

Milestones

Most important updates

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Imaging with radio echoes

A small antenna acting big

Smoothing the grain

Free imagery for anyone

Spec sheet

Update log

Thu 17 Sep

Wed 5 Aug

Fri 16 Aug 2024

Mon 7 Aug 2023

About Umbra

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Imaging with radio echoes

A small antenna acting big

Smoothing the grain

Free imagery for anyone

Spec sheet

Update log

Thu 17 Sep

Wed 5 Aug

Fri 16 Aug 2024

Mon 7 Aug 2023

About Umbra