Singapore is set to launch another Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite into space this month using the Indian-made PSLV-CA rocket. The launch is scheduled to take place on Jul. 23.
Indian Space Research Organisation (GODL-India), GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons
The satellite, named DS-SAR, was constructed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and will be jointly operated by the Singaporean government’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and commercially operated by ST Electronics.
The acquisition of DS-SAR was announced on February 1, 2018, during the Global Space & Technology Convention 2018 (GSTC). The announcement was made by S. Iswaran, Singapore’s then Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), in his opening address as the Guest-of-Honour.
According to Iswaran, DS-SAR will serve both government and commercial purposes. It will support the satellite imagery requirements of Singapore government agencies, particularly in the areas of maritime security and the detection of oil spills. Simultaneously, the captured images from DS-SAR will enhance ST Electronics’ commercial imagery services.
It’s worth noting that DS-SAR is not Singapore’s first SAR satellite. The honor of being the first SAR satellite goes to NeuSAR, which was launched into space a year ago aboard a PSLV-CA rocket.
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