Satellites take images with optical cameras or microwave antennas. Optical cameras cannot see through clouds and darkness. Microwave antennas use synthetic aperture radar (SAR), like airport full body scanners, to overcome these limitations. However, efficiency, capacity, and agility of the antennas severely limit their utility, leaving no system able to deliver persistent, real-time sensing to inform real-time decisions.

Optical satellite imaging systems, including visible, infrared, and hyperspectral cameras can’t see at night or through clouds. With 70% of Earth experiencing cloud cover at any time, these systems struggle to deliver reliable imagery more often than once a week. Places like Singapore, the world’s busiest shipping port, face cloud cover 90% of the time, making optical imagery systems ineffective. Further, common optical imaging systems can’t deliver high-resolution imagery, limiting their scope.

Microwave antennas use the motion of a satellite to synthesize a large imaging aperture. Since these systems use active illumination (like a camera flash), they allow access at night and through clouds. Further, they can record measurements for longer or shorter times to achieve higher or lower resolution, offering flexible imaging modes for different applications. Despite their potential, current antenna hardware severely limits performance.