[Satnews] On October 28, 2015, the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the Department of Commerce, granted XpressSAR Inc. a license to operate a private, commercial, space-based, remote sensing system.

XpressSAR consists of a constellation of four (4) X-Band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites capable of collecting imagery with a ground resolution of 30 meters to less than 1 meter. The satellites will operate in an equatorial orbit at an altitude of 425 km. Command, telemetry and mission image data transmission will be operated from a US-based control center compliant with international S-Band and X-Band frequency allocations for space communications.

The XpressSAR system is designed to provide multiple collections per day over the areas of operation day or night and in all weather conditions. Imagery and other radar data products will be sold to private and public-sector customers as well as government agencies.