SAR satellites from Silicon Valley could detect North Korean missile launches

The U.S. intelligence agencies may rely on commercial space synthetic aperture radar in the near future to spy on North Korea for impending ballistic missile launches.

Graphic: Capella Space

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has quietly set up shop in San Jose and companies such as Capella Space are eager to offer their services.

Capella Space will be launching its first radar satellite this year and companies in New York, Canada and Finland are jumping in to grab a slice of the pie.