"Give SAR Satellite Images to Save Citizens' Lives"…Appeal from the Ukrainian Government [Reading Science]

Chinese state media Global Times recently reported in detail on satellite images of the Vinnytsia Air Force base runway in Ukraine, provided by the satellite data service provider SpaceTy. The media compared satellite photos taken between February 21 and 24, estimating that a Russian missile struck the runway before 5 p.m. on the 24th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "The weather in Ukraine these days is very cloudy. Radar satellite images that can provide information on the movement of Russian troops are desperately needed to save the lives of our people."

Amid attention drawn to civilian commercial satellite images revealing detailed operational situations of Russian troops during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian military is suffering from a lack of information and is requesting special satellite data from overseas. In cases of thick cloud cover or nighttime, images taken by SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites with special capabilities, rather than ordinary satellites from civilian companies, are essential. This highlights how important it is for a nation to establish an independent satellite network capable of monitoring its territory and surroundings on a regular basis.

According to space-specialized media Space.com on the 2nd, Max Polyakov, a Ukrainian-born entrepreneur and co-founder of the Texas-based spaceflight company Firefly Aerospace, appealed to reporters on the 28th of last month for SAR satellite companies to provide information related to the movement of Russian troops invading Ukraine.

He said, "Civilian satellite companies are sharing images of Russian troops advancing in Ukraine and surrounding areas, but in reality, this is not very helpful to those fighting on the ground," adding, "If we can access satellite images more quickly and freely to help Ukraine's defense, we will process them and promptly provide them to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense." Polyakov further emphasized, "Ukraine is currently in need of information, especially images from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites."

Currently, some civilian satellites such as Maxar Technologies, BlackSky, and Planet provide their own images, but these are limited to simple visible light or infrared images, making it impossible to obtain information during heavy cloud cover or at night. In contrast, SAR satellites, which generate images by scanning the ground with radar, provide images regardless of time or weather conditions. Especially in Ukraine, where clouds are often thick around this time of year, SAR satellites are urgently needed. Polyakov appealed, "Ukraine has enough fighter jets to repel Russian troops within its territory, but since they do not know where the attacks will come from and have no information at night, they are essentially blind."

In response to Polyakov's appeal, the Ukrainian government also joined in. On the 1st, Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, posted on Twitter, "We desperately need means to monitor the movement of Russian troops at night, when observation is technically impossible," emphasizing, "Considering that 80% of Ukraine's weather during the day is covered by clouds these days, SAR satellite data is essential to monitor Russian troop movements at night." Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov appealed, "Your cooperation and information can save the lives of our people."