Measurements and Applications
Single-polarization X-band SAR, capable of operating over a 500 MHz bandwidth in stripmap and spotlight imaging modes.
Full Name
Capella X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar
Status
Operational
Instrument Agencies
Capella Space
Maturity
Low Heritage
Instrument Type
Imaging microwave radars 
Geometry
Instrument Technology
Imaging radar (SAR)
Sampling
Other
Resolution
Staring-spotlight: 0.3 m, Sliding-spotlight: 0.5 m, Stripmap: 0.3 m
[Best Resolution: 0.3m]
Swath
Staring-spotlight: 5 x 20km or 10 x 10km, Sliding-spotlight: 200km, Stripmap: 2100km
[Max Swath: 2100 km]
Waveband
Single-polarization X-band (9.4-9.9GHz), 500 MHz bandwidth
Compiled from the 2026 Extended Parameters Survey, agency-nominated technical contacts and published user guides; not yet collected through the annual CEOS MIM survey.
Polarisation Channels
HH · VV
Source
2026 Extended Parameters Survey (Capella Space, 2026-09-23)
Compiled from the 2026 Extended Parameters Survey, agency-nominated technical contacts and published user guides; not yet collected through the annual CEOS MIM survey.
| Mode | Resolution az × rg (m) | Swath (km) | Incidence (°) | Polarisation | NESZ (dB) |
|---|
| Spotlight Ultra - Right Fine-detail detection of small targets and manmade activity | 0.25 × 0.38 | 5 | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Spotlight - Right High-resolution monitoring and change detection | 0.5 × 0.38 | 5 | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Spotlight Wide - Right Regional monitoring and environmental change | 1 × 0.76 | 10 (20 along-track) | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Spotlight Wide - Left Regional monitoring and environmental change | 1 × 0.76 | 10 (20 along-track) | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Spotlight - Left High-resolution monitoring and change detection | 0.5 × 0.38 | 5 | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Spotlight Ultra - Left Fine-detail detection of small targets and manmade activity | 0.25 × 0.38 | 5 | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Stripmap - Left Broad-area coverage and baseline mapping | 1.2 × 1.13 | 10 (100 along-track) | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Stripmap - Right Broad-area coverage and baseline mapping | 1.2 × 1.13 | 10 (100 along-track) | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Parallel Stripmap - Right Ultra-broad, double coverage stripmap with uniform geometry for extended AOIs | 1.2 × 1.13 | 20 (100 along-track) | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |
| Parallel Stripmap - Left Ultra-broad, double coverage stripmap with uniform geometry for extended AOIs | 1.2 × 1.13 | 20 (100 along-track) | 15–50 | VV; HH | -10 |