Satellites that can image Earth at night, and through clouds, near launch

Enlarge / A rendering of ICEYE’s SAR micro satellite deployed in space. (credit: ICEYE)

The biggest thing in aerospace these days is the trend toward small things, from small satellites to small satellite launch vehicles like those under development by Rocket Lab, Virgin Galactic, and Vector Space Systems. Now a new microsatellite company, ICEYE, says it is moving forward with development and deployment of its synthetic-aperture radar technology.

On Wednesday morning, the Finland-based company will announce that it has raised $ 13 million in a new round of funding, including investments from space capital firms such as True Ventures, Lifeline Ventures, Space Angels, and Draper Associates. Since its founding in 2015, the company has raised $ 18.7 million.

In an interview with Ars, the company’s chief executive and cofounder, Rafal Modrzewski, said ICEYE plans to launch its technology within the next 12 months. It intends to begin the launch of a full constellation by 2019. “For the first two years we were mainly a technology company, and we were working with customers to find their needs,” he said. “Now we have matured the idea.”