Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Space42, in partnership with ICEYE, has successfully launched three new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites—Foresight-3, Foresight-4, and Foresight-5—into Low Earth Orbit. The satellites were launched aboard SpaceX’s Bandwagon-4 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This marks another major step in expanding Space42’s Earth Observation (EO) constellation. The launch was conducted via Exolaunch, and communication with the satellites has already been established, signaling the beginning of early operational routines.
This latest launch follows the earlier deployment of Foresight-1 and Foresight-2 in August 2024 and January 2025. With five satellites now in orbit, Space42 is strengthening its position as a key player in the geospatial intelligence sector. The Foresight Constellation integrates SAR imagery with Space42’s AI-driven GIQ platform to deliver real-time intelligence for governments, industries, and international partners.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, expressed pride in achieving this milestone. He stated that expanding the Foresight Constellation to five satellites in just over a year demonstrates Space42’s rapid innovation and its ambition to become a global hub for space technology. He added that this milestone represents the UAE’s growing ability to combine sovereign space capabilities with global collaboration. According to Al Hosani, this launch supports the UAE’s aim to lead in the premium geospatial intelligence market by executing advanced operations at both speed and scale.
ICEYE’s CEO and Co-founder, Rafal Modrzewski, emphasized the strength of this partnership. He highlighted that ICEYE’s technology enables nations like the UAE to develop independent satellite capabilities. By launching mid-inclination SAR satellites, ICEYE and Space42 ensure enhanced coverage across middle latitudes, improving global observation accuracy. Modrzewski added that this collaboration marks another important step in advancing the UAE’s ambitions in the global space industry.
The Foresight Constellation operates with 25-centimeter resolution imaging, a standard that allows for extremely detailed observations. Space42’s GIQ platform transforms this data into actionable insights for real-time decision-making. With daily revisit rates and sharper detection of ground changes, these satellites will provide faster intelligence delivery, benefitting a range of sectors including emergency response, infrastructure monitoring, and defense.
SAR satellite systems have already proven their value in real-world crises. For instance, during the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, SAR data confirmed the safety of critical infrastructure like the Atatürk Dam when other monitoring systems failed. Similarly, in 2024, SAR imagery played a key role in monitoring the UAE’s historic floods. These cases highlight how SAR technology can save lives and support efficient disaster management when conventional systems are unavailable.
The global SAR market is experiencing rapid growth, projected to reach nearly $10 billion by 2030. SAR systems can significantly improve decision-making efficiency across industries—accelerating emergency response by up to 90%, reducing infrastructure maintenance costs by 30%, and cutting operational inefficiencies by 25%. This growing demand places Space42 and ICEYE in a strong position to serve the expanding geospatial intelligence market.
The Foresight Constellation stands as a symbol of international cooperation. The satellites were built in Finland, tested and integrated in Abu Dhabi at Space42’s Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility, and launched from the United States. This distributed model reflects how innovation thrives through cross-border collaboration while strengthening the UAE’s local space industry. Abu Dhabi’s AIT facility is also the region’s first to specialize in SAR technology, a testament to the UAE’s increasing investment in advanced space manufacturing and engineering talent.
With the addition of these three new satellites, the UAE now operates one of the most advanced SAR constellations in the world, joining only about 20 countries with similar capabilities. This progress aligns with the UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030, reinforcing its position as a leader in space exploration, innovation, and high-tech development. Space42’s growing constellation not only enhances global decision intelligence but also supports the UAE’s vision to build a knowledge-based economy rooted in science and technology.
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