Varuna constellation
PierSight's planned fleet of 32 small satellites that combine radar imaging with ship-identity receivers to watch the sea about every 30 minutes.
Why it matters
Ships that switch off their identity beacon are hard to find. Pairing a radar image of every hull with the identity signals that are broadcast shows which vessels are hiding, in any weather, day or night.
How the technology works
Each Varuna satellite carries a synthetic aperture radar (about 1 m resolution) and an AIS receiver, so radar detections can be matched against broadcast identities in the same pass. A technology demonstrator flew in December 2024; the first commercial SAR + AIS satellite was slated for mid-2026.
Sources
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