Scan the waves with radiofrequency sensing

When compared to other means of satellite sensing, radiofrequency detection stands out in a number of ways. One could draw a comparison to human senses: if optical sensors are “vision”, then radiofrequency sensors would be “hearing”.

Various types of machinery emit radio signals, whether it is for radio communication, navigation or detection (via radar). An example would be commercial ships which use radar for collision avoidance and bearing. Mobile ground-based radars also emit strong signals, used to discover and track aerial objects.

By scanning the radiowaves, sources of radio emissions can be discovered and geolocated. Every satellite operator has a distinctive approach to building this sophisticated capability – and many of these capabilities are now commercially available.