Capella Space

Capella Space is America's first commercial synthetic aperture radar satellite company, providing 24/7 Earth observation using advanced X-band SAR technology capable of imaging through clouds, darkness, and adverse weather conditions. The San Francisco-based company operates a constellation delivering sub-0.25 meter resolution imagery for defense, intelligence, and commercial customers.

In 2024, Capella added three advanced Acadia third-generation satellites to its constellation, achieving an industry first by launching and commissioning two satellites within a single week. The August 2024 launches happened just five days apart, with Capella-15 making first contact only 12 minutes after deployment. The constellation now includes 15 satellites providing revisit times under 3 hours over key regions.

Acadia satellites feature improved 700 MHz radar bandwidth delivering higher resolution and imaging quality compared to earlier generations. The radars operate in stripmap, spotlight, and sliding spotlight modes for diverse application requirements. Capella's fully automated tasking platform enables rapid order-to-delivery timelines for time-sensitive intelligence needs.

In 2024, Capella was awarded $15 million by the U.S. Air Force to develop next-generation SAR sensors and received a Space Development Agency HALO contract award. The company launched an AI-powered Vessel Classification system in May 2024, automatically identifying and categorizing ships in high-resolution SAR imagery without human intervention. Capella Space continues advancing all-weather Earth observation capabilities for defense, maritime, and commercial applications worldwide.