Synspective Inc. has signed a Launch Agreement with Exolaunch to launch the second demonstration satellite “StriX-β” on a Soyuz-2 launch vehicle from Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia in late 2021.
StriX-β is the second demonstration satellite following Strix-α and is aimed to demonstrate “InSAR (Interferometric SAR)” technology in orbit, a special SAR analytics technique to detect millimeter-level displacements on the ground surface.
Under the agreement, Exolaunch will provide launch, mission management and integration services for the Strix-β satellite that will be delivered to a Synspective’s custom orbit. The Strix-β is the second satellite of a 30 SAR satellite constellation that Synspective plans to build by the late 2020s.
Dr. Motoyuki Arai, founder and CEO of Synspective, said, “We are very pleased to entrust the launch of StriX-β, our second small SAR satellite, to Exolaunch, which has an extensive track record. Synspective has already begun operating its first satellite, as well as providing solution services. We are now entering a phase of business expansion. StriX-β is a crucial satellite to demonstrate InSAR technology and to deepen satellite-operation know-how, which are strengths in our business expansion. We will accomplish this mission and steadily achieve results to enhance global efficiency and resilience.”
Jeanne Medvedeva, VP of Launch Services at Exolaunch, said, “We are delighted to welcome Synspective as our customer and to launch StriX-β with Soyuz-2, which is known for its outstanding reliability. Synspective is a company with an ambitious mission to revolutionize an Earth Observation market by introducing new SAR technologies and solutions. Exolaunch’s commitment to working with global conscientious companies is the perfect complement to Synspective’s mission of advancing the world through data-driven decisions that have a lasting positive impact. We are proud of being both flexible and authentic, capable of providing on demand launches to requested custom orbits tailored to Synspective’s constellation needs.”
Synspective provides one-stop-solutions using geospatial data from its own SAR satellites, upon its mission to create a progressive world based on real data. The core technology was developed by the ImPACT program led by The Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. Synspective is building a constellation of its own small SAR satellites and to provide its data and analytic information to governments and commercial outfits.
