Resolution from 0.5 meters: Prytula explains why Ukraine needs its own satellite

Serhiy Prytula wrote about this on Telegram. 

Why do Ukraine and the Ukrainian Armed Forces need a satellite?

Owning the ICEYE satellite allows Ukraine to receive exclusive images continuously, guaranteed and 24/7 under any weather conditions, despite rain, snow, fog, smog, and dust, both day and night. These pictures help to plan operations better, and therefore to destroy the enemy more effectively.

According to the agreement, the Ukrainian side receives both the satellite and access to the database of the constellation of satellites.

When the paid period of access to the database expires, this satellite remains in full ownership of Ukraine - until the end of its functionality in orbit.

Further re-registration of the satellite in the relevant registers for Ukraine is planned. This is a legal procedure that takes a certain amount of time, because it requires compliance with the necessary norms, making changes to registers, etc.

The owner of the satellite is Ukraine, and it is the Ukrainian side that determines what and when it shoots, as well as in what format and spectrum we receive data. That is, we fully own, manage, as well as use the images of this satellite.

According to the agreement, the satellite is insured. If something happens to it before the end of the guaranteed period of operation, the seller company undertakes to provide the Ukrainian side with an identical satellite.

How does it work?

Unlike an optical satellite, which can only work during the day and in a clear sky, a SAR satellite acts like a lantern - it "illuminates" the earth's surface with its own radio waves. Therefore, obstacles, night, clouds, rain, fog, and smoke are not important for shooting. The SAR satellite "pierces" everything with its radio waves.

Frequency of flights

The satellite flies over Ukrainian territory twice a day.

Satellite images of the territory of Ukraine are received only by the Ukrainian side as the owner of the satellite, therefore access is exclusive. When the satellite does not fly over the territory of Ukraine, we can receive data due to access to the constellation of SAR satellites of the ICEYE company. Thus, uninterrupted data reception is ensured.

Resolution

From 0.5 meters to 1 meter depending on the area covered by the picture. One picture can cover an area of ​​up to 225 square kilometers.  

Data acquisition speed

Foreign partners do provide Ukraine with satellite images, but with a delay.  

Due to the fact that Ukraine bought the satellite, the process of data transfer from the moment of the image to the moment when it is received directly by military units is reduced to a few hours. In war conditions, the speed of obtaining information is a significant advantage.

"Yesterday, a man's comment made me laugh a lot: "Whoops, my 74 hryvnias are in space", Prytula added at the end.