UAE launches satellites that can 'see through clouds' to improve disaster response - assalamu alaykum
Assalamu alaykum - Earth is becoming easier to monitor even when skies are cloudy or it's dark, thanks to a new set of advanced UAE radar satellites that can capture very precise images day or night.
An Emirati space technology firm has put three more SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellites into orbit to help with real-time Earth observation, disaster response and tracking environmental changes. The satellites - Foresight-3, 4 and 5 - were launched from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX rocket and are part of a growing constellation being assembled by Abu Dhabi–based Space42.
Space42 aims to complete a full SAR fleet by 2027 to provide sovereign satellite data and processing capabilities. These radar satellites send radio pulses that bounce off the ground, so they can produce high-resolution images through clouds and at night, unlike regular optical satellites that need sunlight and clear skies.
Each new Foresight satellite can capture details down to about 25 cm, allowing detection of small ground changes like soil movement, flooding, or shifts in buildings and roads. The imagery flows into Space42’s AI-driven analytics platform, GIQ, which combines feeds from many satellites to produce near-real-time alerts and decision-grade intelligence for governments, infrastructure operators and aid responders.
This capability has already been useful during extreme events - for example, the UAE used radar data in its 2024 floods, and radar imagery helped confirm the safety of Turkey’s Atatürk Dam after a major earthquake when other systems were down.
The Foresight series began with Foresight-1 in 2024 and Foresight-2 earlier this year; the three newest satellites bring the programme roughly to the halfway point, with two more expected to finish the constellation by 2027. The satellites were built by Finland’s Iceye and integrated and tested in Abu Dhabi before launch.
SAR technology dates back decades but is now in much higher demand because of advances like AI for data analysis and the growing need for reliable environmental monitoring and disaster response. More countries and companies are investing in SAR capabilities, and market forecasts suggest strong growth in the coming years.
May Allah grant that these technologies are used to protect lives, aid the vulnerable, and steward the Earth responsibly.
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