In the last week, satellite images that allow to know the effectiveness of attacks in the Middle East, have not only been public, also viral. To know if possible detect details that are reduced to resolution centimeterswe talked to Gonzalo García-Muñoz, Global Operations Senior Vice President of Iceye operations, world leader in satellite operations with synthetic opening radar (SAR).
“Our company is framed in what is called Defense Tech -explains García -Muñoz in telephone conversation -. The origin was a project of a university: those responsible managed to miniaturize a technology called synthetic opening radar, or SAR) The first versions weighed 70 or 80 kilos, a radar with which you can take images of the earth. It is a revolutionary issue, not because technology was new, because radar technology in satellites already existed, but existed at the government, defense and secret level. ”
In basic terms, a synthetic opening radar (SAR) is a television technology that uses a radar to create high -resolution of the earth’s surface. Unlike the traditional optical image, which depends on sunlight, SAR uses active lighting with microwave energy, which allows it to operate day or night and in various climatic conditions. The key to the high resolution of the SAR resides in its ability to synthesize a large antenna opening combining radar signals of a mobile platform, such as an aircraft or a satellite.
“One of the differences regarding other technologies -García-Muñoz confirms-is that the previous satellites weighed a ton and a half, two tons, took five years to be built, which cost 500 million euros. Pass from that to 70 kilos, five years, 18 months and that costs much less … now Every 18 months we put a new generation into orbit. And have benefits that have evolved exponentially. That must be added that We have taken less than four months in which we sign the contract in putting the satellite in orbit. ”
García-Muñoz says that Iceye has the constellation of satellites, is the largest in the world in this type of radar technology.
“What our satellite constellation does is take images of our constellation test and unite them together with third -party data -adds García -Muñoz -we have a team of more than 60 data scientists, people who make AI, Machine Learning, etc. We have developed models and products that are very focused on natural catastrophes issues. For example, we have a product that is dedicated to understanding what happens to the floods. flooding, such as the case of the Dana, We can understand what the extension of water is, what depth it has in each place, to infer, therefore, the damage, which buildings are more damaged, where we have to send rescue actions, etc. Something similar we have in fire and fire issues, for example. We have a meteorologists who are continuously monitoring what happens in terms of this type of natural catastrophes in the world. ”
The images obtained with this technology allow having a much greater precision measure: The satellites orbit about 550 km. high and have a resolution of 25 centimeters, objects of objects, reliefs, movements.
“Thanks to this we can detect what happens under the foliage of the trees of a forest, the traces of vehicles in the field or changes in the humidity levels -confirms García -Muñoz -.You can detect many things that sometimes seem almost science fiction. The reality is that in the end most of the cases of use that this technology has is to understand and monitor what happens in a specific place as permanent as possible and see those changes and try to have all the intelligence. ”
Of course, having such an advanced technology implies certain responsibilities, so to speak. Its involvement with intelligence and defense makes Iceye members cannot be revealed.
“We work with the allied nations to the current NATO -says García -Muñoz confirms -and that extends not only to what we work or the type of work we do, but also where we can recruit the equipment, what kind of components and suppliers we use, etc. We have to demonstrate that we do not use components, for example, of Chinese origin in satellites or in the hardware. I speak of China to say an example, but all non -allied nations are basically prohibited. ”
The satellites that carry out these tasks They are thrown by Space X (the most reliable and economical, according to Iceye) and the amount of them that are in orbit (Confidential information confirms García-Muñoz) allows to cover not only much of the planet or everything (another secret that Iceye is stored) allows us to have what is known as revision times, images of the same place in a very short time, for example, one hour.
“There are organizations that use our images to understand how deforestation is evolving, for example, in a very specific area -says García -Muñoz -in other situations, for example, we want to understand how a ship goes on the altamar, or in this port or such. In those cases we can not only take an image, but we can already record videos of how a boat moves. You can identify which is the direction of the boat, at what speed it moves. Not only where it is. And all this with a resolution that allows us to see the wings of a plane in full flight. And even the wheels. ”
Two conclusions. It is obvious that it can be confirmed or detailed in detail what has happened in a certain region. And in great detail. And the second conclusion is that, if we see images in Those that are not clear if there has been a bombing, for example, is that we are not seeing the “real” available images. See 550 km. high and with a resolution of 25 centimeters, it rarely leaves doubt.