SAN FRANCISCO - Capella Space has entered into an agreement with Addvalue for use of its Inter-Satellite Data Relay System (IDRS™) via Inmarsat's global L-Band satellite communications network. The Inmarsat network provides satellite uplink and downlink services, which enable Capella to task any satellite in its constellation in any location in the world in real-time. Through its agreement with Addvalue, Capella will have a significant market lead as the only Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provider with real-time tasking capability.
Lightweight Addvalue terminals on Capella satellites will reduce the time required to order and deliver high-resolution imagery from anywhere in the world. Addvalue's IDRS will keep Capella's constellation of 36 SAR micro-satellites in constant contact with Inmarsat's global L-Band network, enabling two-way IP-based connectivity. Unlike traditional ordering processes that rely on legacy systems such as fax machines, Capella customers will use a web application to instantly log and verify tasking requests routed through the Inmarsat network. Details of the imaging request - e.g., the location, time and frequency of revisit -- will be forwarded through the network to the next available satellite, which will maneuver to complete the task and return an image and metadata to Capella's ground station network within minutes of acquisition.
Traditionally, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operators uplink orders using ground infrastructure, which can only connect to satellites when they pass over a ground station in the network. As a result, constellation operators can't rapidly task satellites, resulting in significant delays between image ordering and delivery. Inmarsat operates a geostationary network 36,000 kilometers above the Earth, providing global coverage through the strategic placement of far fewer satellites and a well-established ground network infrastructure. With IDRS providing real-time 24/7 access to Inmarsat's communication satellite network, Capella can uplink customer orders to task satellites within minutes instead of the industry average of four to eight hours.
