U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center Signs Collaborative Research Agreement with Capella Space

Oct. 21, 2021

Capella Space has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center (SMDTC). Through this agreement, Capella  Space integrates its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data into the U.S. Army's Payload  Development Lab, exploring this and other space-based technology concepts within both  simulated and test environments.

Capella's SAR data is unique in that it collects high-quality imagery easily, quickly, and securely.  Capella Space is the first U.S. commercial SAR constellation operator and an industry leader in  SAR data. Capella's SAR systems image in most weather, day or night, and capture amplitude  and phase history data, enabling the extraction of highly valuable intelligence, such as material  properties, moisture, elevation, and small changes and movements, which are not available with  electro-optical imagery. Multiple U.S. Department of Defense agencies have shown interest in  using Capella's SAR imagery for a variety of purposes, including national security, humanitarian  assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure and transportation monitoring, and reliable monitoring  for indications and warnings of potential natural and security threats. 

"SMDTC is looking forward to this partnership with the team at Capella Space," said Tom  Webber, the director for the Technical Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command  (USASMDC). "Capella is the first U.S. company to commercialize SAR and is uniquely  positioned to provide mission-critical support to tactical users and advance the Army's critical mission."

The CRADA reinforces Capella Space's collaborative relationship with United States  government agencies. This past year, Capella Space signed and maintained contracts with the  US Navy, US Airforce, National Geospatial Agency, In-Q-Tel, the Space Development Agency,  and the US Space Force. to provide on-demand, high-resolution SAR data and analytics for the U.S. government.

"Every day, the United States Armed Forces are tasked with keeping the peace and saving lives  across multiple domains in a state of constant change. You need timely intelligence to drive the  best possible outcomes," said Payam Banazadeh, CEO and founder of Capella Space. "We're  proud to offer US-made, market-leading SAR to support the U.S. government, from  policymaking to the tactical user."