Archives for December 2021

The South African satellite SumbandilaSat (Pathfinder in Venda) is reaching the end of its life and initiated deorbit procedures on Friday, December 10, 2021.

The satellite was launched in 2009 and captured a total of 1,128 high-resolution, usable images. The image data was applied in local research and on the Copernicus (previously GMES: Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) program. The data also contributed toward disaster management, such as flood monitoring in Namibia and fire campaigns in the Kruger National Park. It also recorded timely images of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, as well as the Tuscaloosa tornado in the USA.

In May of 2005, the then DST (Department of Science and Technology) of the South African Government commissioned Stellenbosch University and SunSpace to develop the ZASat pathfinder satellite program (later renamed SumbandilaSat), a technology demonstrator in conjunction with the South African industry.

SumbandilaSat was delivered 15 months later and launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on September 17, 2009, with monitoring and satellite support from the SANSA Space Operations facility in Hartebeesthoekt.

SumbandilaSat was unfortunately launched directly at the start of the 24th solar cycle when the sun became more active and was, therefore, exposed to ever increasing levels of adverse space radiation. On Wednesday, September 14, 2011, data concerning the satellite’s primary function was received for the last time after a successful two years on-orbit. The satellite has since been gradually losing altitude and will most likely burn up in the atmosphere while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere on December 10.

SumbandilaSat, although crippled because of space weather phenomena, continued to provide valuable engineering data during its more than 12 years in orbit, allowing the South African Space Industry to build on this successful mission.

The SumbandilaSat mission re-established South Africa as a space-faring nation with an on-orbit, smallsat demonstrator and also fostered human capital development. The program allowed for the training of nine new black trainee engineers and broadened the experience of 78 other engineers. On the academic front, the Sumbandila program produced 18 Masters and two PhD students in engineering at Stellenbosch University.

Dr. Val Munsami, CEO of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), said the Sumbandila mission has demonstrated South Africa’s capability in space engineering and has paved the way for more satellite missions as part of the Space Infrastructure Hub (SIH) currently in development. The SIH will see a suite of different classes of satellites being launched in the coming years drawing on the heritage created through the Sumbandila mission.

The satellite has led to the establishment of the smallsat missions of ZACUBE 1 and 2 by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The satellite constellation will see the addition of a further seven smallsats that are in development for support to Operation Phakisa (monitoring of the marine environment and economy).

Further, investment in human resources through the SumbandilaSat era has contributed toward SANSA’s program of skills and industry development for future space missions.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) has been selected to lead a UK Space Agency study to define the requirements for a complex mission to de-orbit two, non-operational, space debris targets.

SSTL has valuable experience in two previous Active Debris Removal (ADR) demonstration missions; RemoveDEBRIS, which concluded a series of debris retrieval demonstrations in January 2019, and Astroscale’s 2021 ELSA-d mission, for which SSTL supplied the client “target” satellite.

The LEOPARD study will be led by SSTL and delivered by a consortium of leading UK space companies and academia to benefit from the wide breadth of specialized expertise required to deliver a successful Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission. The LEOPARD consortium includes Airbus Defence and Space, GMV NSL, Northern Space and Security Limited (NORSS), Satellite Applications Catapult, University of Lincoln, University of Surrey and ClearSpace.

SSTL’s CERISE satellite was the first verified case of an accidental collision between two manufactured objects in Space back in 1996. CERISE was hit by a cataloged space debris object from an Ariane rocket in 1996, making it the first verified case of a collision between two objects in space. The collision tore off a portion of the satellite’s gravity-gradient stabilization boom, which left the satellite severely damaged and its performance was compromised.

The European Space Agency stated that they perform, on average, two maneuvers per Earth orbiting satellite per year, with the number of conjunction warnings increasing over time. The recent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test conducted by Russia that created a cloud of new debris at an altitude of between 440km and 520km above Earth has brought the topic of space debris to the fore once again.

Currently, more than 30,000 manufactured non-operational objects are regularly tracked around the Earth; however, many millions of minor objects remain undetected and because the UK is reliant on satellites for services that support critical national infrastructure such as navigation, telecommunications, security and weather forecasting, it has become crucial to remove space debris and prevent further collisions between objects.

The LEOPARD study will define concepts for de-orbiting two, uncooperative UK space assets from LEO to demonstrate ADR techniques and will also present options for re-purposing the chaser spacecraft once the ADR task is complete, including the ability to be refueled upon mission completion in order to allow the satellite to capture and remove even more debris. SSTL has a number of end-of-life satellites in orbit that could be selected as targets for the LEOPARD ADR mission, an advantage that provides additional knowledge of the target spacecraft design and operational state – crucial factors for the success of an ADR mission.

ADR missions are complex and characterization of the debris target is critical before attempting a capture. It is essential to determine the state of the spacecraft or object including orientation, roll speed and axis of rotation, and the physical condition of the object (broken appendages, peeling or flaking surface materials) to assess the lowest risk for a successful capture and control.

Some target characterization will be achievable from the ground; however, in-orbit characterization and close-up inspection will be essential. Once the on-target is characterized, a close approach can be facilitated by a sensor suite on board the chaser satellite to keep track of the target and the relative distance between them, and complete maneuvers on the final capture approach. Once the chaser captures the target, the dynamics of the coupled two-body object will rapidly change requiring precise control for completion of the ADR mission.

The LEOPARD study will define several possible ADR mission concepts, using modelling and evaluation of the key technologies. The LEOPARD project, comprising a consortium of UK space companies, is identifying an ideal mission configuration for active debris removal (ADR) to combat the global issue of space debris. The mission, currently in an exploration phase, will use the UK space industry for each aspect of the build and aims to launch a demonstration payload in 2025.

Examples of ADR capture technologies to be considered include:

• Capture using a dextrous robotic arm with refueling interface
• Co-operative debris capture using a chaser satellite for rendezvous, docking and de-orbit
• Tethered space tug
• Net capture device
• Transporter chaser with multiple single-use chaser ADR spacecraft for future use

Examples of ADR de-orbit technologies to be considered include:

• De-orbit propulsive pack attached to the target
• Tether
• Drag sail

A second phase of the study will propose different methods of refurbishing the chaser spacecraft such as refueling and addition of extra modules.

Consortium member roles:

• SSTL – spacecraft prime
• Airbus Defence and Space – robotics and ADR capture systems, and In Orbit Servicing capabilities
• GMV NSL – mission analysis, tools and Guidance, Navigation & Control software
• NORSS – orbital analysis, space situational awareness, regulatory and risk management expertise
• The Satellite Applications Catapult – ground segment and In Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing simulator
• University of Lincoln – mathematical modeling of close-coupled system dynamics and robotics test facilities
• University of Surrey – vision instruments for close proximity operations and passive de-orbit technologies
• ClearSpace – customer consultants, analysis of future market needs

“SSTL understands the risks of space debris.” said SSTL’s Managing Director, Phil Brownnett. “We have significant expertise derived from over 500 operational satellite years and together with our work on ADR demonstrator missions such as RemoveDEBRIS and Astroscale’s ELSA-d we are driving new concepts and technologies capable of delivering a milestone double Active Debris Removal mission for the UK. We are committed to combating the issue of space debris to keep satellites operating safely and provide a sustainable future for space missions.”

Jacob Geer, Head of Space Surveillance and Tracking at the UK Space Agency, said, “Space debris poses a growing risk to satellites and the vital services they provide, as well as to human spaceflight and astronauts. This new project will draw on SSTL’s significant expertise and map out a new mission to remove defunct satellites from orbit. It’s a great example of how the UK space sector is playing a leading role in keeping the space environment safe and secure.”

The Tomorrow Companies Inc. (“Tomorrow.io”) and SPAC company Pine Technology Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: PTOC, PTOCW, PTOCU) have announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement that would result in Tomorrow.io becoming a public company.

Upon closing of the business combination, the newly combined company will operate as Tomorrow.io and trade on Nasdaq under the symbol “TMW.” Tomorrow.io is a high-growth, SaaS company backed by sophisticated technology with an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) mission to significantly improve weather forecasting (Environmental), protect communities and save lives globally (Social) and enable countries, businesses and individuals to prepare for weather events and climate change (Governance).

In 2020, weather events caused losses of more than $100 billion in the United States. Spending on weather and climate services will reach an estimated $190 billion by 2030, up from an estimated $89 billion in 2020, based on actual and forecast compound annual growth rates (CAGR). Tomorrow.io’s mission is to help countries and businesses prepare for the business impact of weather by automating decision-making and enabling climate adaptation at scale.

The company’s Weather and Climate Security Platform delivers operational weather insights for global customers across a broad range of industries, including aviation, energy, insurance, on-demand companies, professional sports and venues, and logistics, as well as government agencies around the world. By leveraging the platform’s proprietary weather intelligence—which uses machine learning to translate hyperlocal forecasts into actionable insights—users can proactively address weather- and climate-related challenges.

To advance weather and climate forecasting on a global scale, Tomorrow.io is developing a first-of-its-kind constellation of radar-equipped satellites, with initial launches planned for late 2022. The satellites are expected to provide the first-ever global precipitation dataset updated hourly along with other critical weather and ocean parameters. Tomorrow.io believes this dramatic increase in monitoring capabilities will enable better forecasts everywhere, especially in data-sparse areas that currently lack reliable forecasts, yet are the most vulnerable to weather fluctuation and climate change.

“Tomorrow.io was founded with the mission to improve global access to weather intelligence for all,” said Shimon Elkabetz, Co-founder and CEO of Tomorrow.io. “Today, this mission is more important than ever against the backdrop of a changing climate. Every individual, business, and government is embracing climate adaptation and mitigation. This is exactly the solution that Tomorrow.io provides—a unique software offering that translates the weather forecast into insights for any industry, allowing customers to proactively prepare for the impact of incoming weather across their operations. We are thrilled to partner with Pine Technology to accelerate our product development and plans for a global satellite constellation.” 

“Shimon and the impressive Tomorrow.io leadership team have deep expertise in weather, radar technology, and decision support software,” said Adam Karkowsky, Non-Executive Chairman of Pine Technology. “They have built a vertically integrated company that delivers exceptional value to their global commercial and government customers. Tomorrow.io is leading the way with its world-class weather forecasting operation and modern SaaS-based approach to meet the growing need for weather and climate security. With our experience supporting high-growth companies and our vast network of contacts that offer new customer opportunities, we believe we can help deliver long-term value for all stockholders.” 

Transaction Summary
The pro forma equity value of the combined company is approximately $1.2 billion, assuming no redemptions by Pine Technology stockholders. The transaction will provide up to $420 million of gross proceeds, before deducting transaction expenses and assuming no redemptions, including $75 million through a fully-committed PIPE at $10.00 per share. The PIPE includes commitments from institutional investors including funds managed by Koch Strategic Platforms, National Grid Partners, JetBlue Technology Ventures, SB Energy Corp., SoftBank Group’s Japanese wholly-owned subsidiary, as well as Pine Technology’s sponsor, Pine Technology Sponsor LLC. The transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Tomorrow.io and Pine Technology, is subject to approval by Pine Technology stockholders and other customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has successfully deployed two satellites to orbit for real-time, geospatial intelligence company BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY), bringing the total number of satellites deployed by Rocket Lab to 109 in number. 

The ‘A Data With Destiny’ mission, arranged for BlackSky through global launch services provider Spaceflight Inc., was Electron’s 23^rd lift-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. Following lift-off at 00:02 UTC, December 9, 2021, Electron successfully delivered the two BlackSky Gen-2 Earth-imaging satellites to a circular 430 km. orbit, growing BlackSky’s constellation of real-time, geospatial, monitoring spacecraft to 12 in number.

BlackSky’s commissioning process for these satellites is now underway to bring them into service as quickly as possible, with the last pair of BlackSky satellites deployed by Rocket Lab beginning commercial operation and generating revenue within six days of launch. 

The ‘A Data With Destiny’ mission is the latest launch for BlackSky as part of a multi-launch agreement with Spaceflight to deploy numerous BlackSky satellites on Electron. Rocket Lab has now deployed seven satellites to LEO for BlackSky on missions across 2019 and this year. An additional two, BlackSky satellites are scheduled for launch early next year on Electron from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. These successfully deployed satellites, along with those previously launched to space by Rocket Lab and the remaining pair of satellites next in line, represent the largest number of satellites BlackSky has dedicated to a single launch provider to date.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, said, “Congratulations and welcome to space once again, BlackSky. These back-to-back missions are a showcase of the benefits of rapid-launch in action: quick constellation expansion, streamlined access to space, and fast delivery of global insights to BlackSky customers that Rocket Lab is proud to facilitate with dedicated launch on Electron.” 

‘A Data With Destiny’ is Rocket Lab’s final launch for 2021, capping off a busy year for the company. With the successful deployment of spacecraft for government and commercial customers, Rocket Lab launches this year supported operations in Earth Observation (EO), weather monitoring, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) and enabled technology demonstrations in maritime surveillance, quantum computing, advanced AI, communications, and deployable sensors.

The successful deployment of another Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft to space earlier this year is also representative of the company’s growth in space systems, including several strategic acquisitions that will bolster future Rocket Lab missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus and further enable Rocket Lab to streamline access to space for satellites as an end-to-end space company.

The next year for Rocket Lab includes a busy manifest of Electron launches for new and repeat satellite customers, and ongoing development of its next-generation launch vehicle Neutron, tailored for mega-constellation deployment, interplanetary missions, and eventually human spaceflight. 

Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO and Co-Founder, Fleet Space Technologies said, “The South Australian Government’s investment in the Australian Space Park confirms that our home in Adelaide is the true centerpoint of the nation’s ‘Space State’. It also confirms our leaders’ vision to put the country on the world stage as a global center of excellence for innovation, design and manufacture of space technology – an ambition that Fleet Space is proud to share.”

This announcement from the South Australian Government, in addition to Fleet’s recent Series B raise of $26.4m (USD), are critical institutional endorsements of the potential that lies in satellite communications efficiencies and will allow Fleet to implement its growth strategy including the Hyper Factory that will be located in the heart of the Australian Space Park. In this purpose-built facility, Fleet Space will design, engineer and build a new breed of small satellites to be developed leveraging on in-house technology, accelerating the development process, driving down costs and truly democratizing this vital technology.

“The creation of the Australian Space Park signals our commitment to the South Australian and Australian space sector by bridging the gap between research and development and prototyping to production at scale,” Stephen Marshall MP, of South Australia said. 

“The Park aligns with Australia’s space strategy that aims to triple the space sector’s contribution to GDP to over $12 billion per annum and create up to an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030.

“It is the next step in positioning Australia’s space community to deliver the entire space value chain -— enabling the design, manufacture, launch and mission control of NewSpace capabilities.”

Fleet Space Technologies will build a satellite Hyper Factory in the newly announced Australian Space Park in Adelaide, and develop a constellation of new 3D printed small satellites. The South Australian Government will invest $20million (AUS) in Australia’s first dedicated space manufacturing hub. 

Following this announcement from the South Australian Government and Fleet’s recent Series B raise of $26.4m (USD), Fleet Space will build its new Hyper Factory at the Australian Space Park, which will co-locate four space manufacturing companies in a purpose built facility with a focus on collaboration in the heart of Australia’s ‘Space State’. This will accelerate the expansion of Fleet Space’s in-house research and development arm to build a Hyper Factory, where it will create the Alpha small satellite – the world’s first entirely 3D printed smallsat device.

From the Hyper Factory, the Fleet Space’s Alpha smallsat constellation will be designed, engineered and manufactured. Alpha, which also integrates beamforming antennas and electronics, will run alongside Fleet Space’s existing collaboration with Centuri constellation partner, Tyvak, creating a complimentary constellation that further increases its connectivity speed and reach.

The Australian Space Park in which Fleet Space Technology will build a Hyper Factory will be the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Four companies, Fleet Space Technologies, Q-CTRL, ATSpace and Alauda Aeronautics, will co-locate in a purpose-built facility with a focus on collaboration and production of small satellites and their payloads, rockets, electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL), and supporting componentry and technical systems.

Adelaide Airport has been identified by the industry consortium as an ideal location for the

Australian Space Park due to its proximity to traditional aerospace companies and the central business district and innovation precinct, Lot Fourteen, which is home to a growing

community of space companies. The State Government is in discussions with Adelaide Airport as a potential location for the Australian Space Park.

As the centrepiece of the nation’s space endeavours, the state is presently targeting an annual growth rate in the space sector of 5.8 per cent over the next decade.

The rapid growth of Fleet Space Technologies and its space tech cohorts indicates that Australia is fast becoming a global leader in space technology. Australia was one of the first countries to launch a satellite into space from its home soil, and subsequently its leaders have consistently voiced a requirement for the nation to continue growing its presence and capability in this critical sector. The nation itself relies heavily on space technology to power the everyday lives of its people – from communication services to Earth observation for navigation purposes and weather forecasting. 

Australia already boasts commercial rocket launches and a burgeoning space-centric software industry, positioning the nation as a capable, strategic and globally engaged leader in the field. Homegrown Australian technology is also supporting the wider space industry. Fleet Space will join the Seven Sisters’ Australian space industry consortium in support of NASA’s Artemis program to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024 and create a sustainable human presence for later crewed Martian exploration. Commencing in 2023, the Seven Sisters missions are designed to find accessible water and other resources on the moon. 

Skykraft has closed a funding round of AUD$3.5 million with the participation of investors including Allan Moss (former CEO of Macquarie Group) and Adcock Private Equity to deliver a world-first, global, satellite constellation for space-based Air Traffic Management. 

Skykraft is positioned to offer a global product that will offer the prospect of significant job creation and onshore opportunities for the growing Space sector as well as deliver the sovereign capability needed for the nation’s defence and government programs. 

The Australian developed and manufactured smallsats will replace ground-based infrastructure for Air Traffic Management with space-based systems, for both surveillance and communication services. 

Skykraft Co-founders, Chief Engineer Dr. Doug Griffin and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Craig Benson, have 20+ years satellite mission and aerospace experience, including with the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA missions, RAAF and UNSW Canberra Space.

In December 2020, Skykraft signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airservices Australia to explore and demonstrate the feasibility of space-based surveillance and communication technologies and its application in the aviation eco-system.

The capital will be used to design, build and launch the Block II validation satellites (nine smallsats scheduled to launch in June of 2022 via SpaceX). 

Skykraft’s first launch will consist of a 300 kg. satellite payload. This follows Skykraft having successfully completed rigorous ground testing and validation of its Block I smallsat (Majura) in June of 2021.

Joe Capra, founding principal of Lennoxgrove Capital, said, "Skykraft has developed a leading technology with global relevance and unique attributes in Surveillance and Aviation Communication services for the large Air Traffic Management sector. Skykraft’s solution also contributes to CO2 abatement by allowing aircraft to travel on more efficient flight paths, which translates into both environmental benefits and reduced fuel costs for airlines."

Skykraft’s Executive Chairman, Air Vice Marshal (retired), Mark Skidmore, said, “Skykraft’s space-based solution allows real-time communications between air traffic controllers and pilots, allowing for the reduction in separation between aircraft over oceanic airspace, enhancing efficiency and delivering environmental benefits. Our smallsat constellation will be a world-first, proudly out of Australia.” 

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Space Test Program (STP)-3 mission for U.S. Space Force lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at 5:19 a.m., EDT, on Dec.ember7, 2021.

The STP-3 mission consists of the STPSat-6 satellite that hosts the National Nuclear Security Administration‘s Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System-3 (SABRS-3) package and NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) experiment. The launch also includes a propulsive secondary payload adapter carrying additional small science and technology missions.

The mission launched on an Atlas V 551 configuration rocket that included a 5.4 meter payload fairing and stands 196 ft. (59.7 m) tall. The Atlas booster for this mission is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine. Aerojet Rocketdyne provided the RL10C-1 engine for the Centaur upper stage and Northrop Grumman provided the five Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM) 63 solid rocket boosters.

This was the 90^th launch of the Atlas V rocket. To date, ULA has launched 146 times with 100 percent mission success.

• STP-3 is a co-manifested mission that matures technology and reduces future space program risk for the Department of the Air Force and the U.S. Space Force by advancing warfighting capabilities in the areas of nuclear detonation detection, space domain awareness (SDA), weather, and communication. Both spacecraft will be delivered to geosynchronous orbit. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

• The OoA payload fairing was developed with a new manufacturing method, an alternative process to cure carbon fiber composites, which allows for a more efficient production process, lower cost and lower system mass while maintaining the same level of reliability and quality.

• The Atlas V is also equipped with a new In-Flight Power System (IFPS). This system supplies power to the satellites’ batteries during the rocket’s long duration ascent, a mission more than seven hours. The IFPS will ensure the spacecraft have fully charged batteries when deployed into geosynchronous orbit.

• GPS Enhanced Navigation is an additional first flight item that utilizes existing flight computer hardware to provide GPS signals that improve the Centaur‘s navigation system performance, allowing the Centaur to achieve even more accurate orbits.

“STP-3 is a unique mission as the Atlas V will deliver STP-3 directly into Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO). This is a highly complex orbital insertion that requires three Centaur burns and precise navigation, a capability unique to the Atlas V. This is our longest mission to date at seven hours and 10 minutes until final spacecraft separation,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “We are proud to work alongside our mission partners to prepare to launch this challenging mission and thank them for their outstanding teamwork.”

Synspective Inc. now has an agreement in place with Rocket Lab, to launch the second demonstration satellite “StriX-β” as well as the launch of two additional satellites.

“StriX-β” was originally scheduled to be launched by Exolaunch’s Soyuz-2 rocket in 2021, but due to a change in the launch schedule of the Soyuz-2 rocket, the satellite will be launched by Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket in early 2022. The launch date of our satellite on Exolaunch’s Soyuz-2 rocket is currently under adjustment.

“StriX-β” is the second demonstration satellite following “StriX-α” and will demonstrate InSAR (Interferometric SAR) technology in orbit, a special SAR analytics technique to detect millimeter-level displacements on the ground surface using radar images of the Earth’s surface. Synspective plans to launch six satellites by 2023 and aims to build a constellation of 30 satellites by the late 2020s.

Synspective’s SAR Satellite © Synspective

“It is a great honor to collaborate with Rocket Lab, which is evolving from a rocket venture pioneer to an experienced launch service provider with the successful ‘StriX-α’ deployment to orbit,” said founder and CEO of Synspective, Dr. Motoyuki Arai. “We are very grateful for their flexibility in accepting our requests on the satellite’s orbit and launch period. Synspective has already begun operating its first satellite and providing solution services, and is now entering a phase of business expansion. ‘StriX-β’, the second satellite following StriX-α, will demonstrate Interferometric SAR (InSAR) technology in orbit and 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.”

Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive, Peter Beck, said, “We’re honored the Synspective team has once again chosen Electron to grow their StriX constellation. We recognize the importance of dedicated orbits and custom mission parameters for constellations, and we’re delighted to deliver a tailored launch and integration service to the Synspective team once again.”

Synspective’s mission is to create a learning world where people can expand their capabilities and make tangible progress with new data and technologies. Synspective provides one-stop-solutions using geospatial data from its own SAR satellites to create a progressive world based on real data. Synspective is building a constellation of its own small SAR satellites to provide data and analytic information to governments and commercial outfits.