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CAPELLA SPACE

Amplify Intelligence -- All-weather, day-and-night SAR satellite data for earth observation and risk intelligence

Data & Analytics Growth Acquired
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Overview

Capella Space is the first American company to bring commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data to the broader market at scale. Founded in 2016 by Payam Banazadeh (a former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineer) and William Walter Woods, Capella builds advanced SAR satellites and provides earth observation data and analytics to government, commercial, and insurance customers worldwide.

Unlike optical satellites, Capella's SAR technology uses radar signals to image the Earth's surface through clouds, fog, smoke, and darkness, delivering all-weather, day-and-night visibility with near-real-time data refresh. The company operates the Acadia-class third-generation SAR constellation with 600 MHz bandwidth capability, offering 2--15 revisit opportunities per day over key regions.

In July 2025, IonQ completed the acquisition of Capella Space in an all-stock deal valued at approximately USD 318 million. Capella continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under CEO Frank Backes, pursuing both its established SAR data business and a new mission to build the world's first space-based quantum key distribution (QKD) network.

Products & Services

SAR Data Platform

High-resolution synthetic aperture radar imagery at sub-0.25m resolution, available 24/7 regardless of weather, cloud cover, smoke, or darkness.

Key Features

  • Sub-0.25m resolution X-band radar imagery
  • 2--15 revisit opportunities per day over priority regions
  • Sub-3-hour revisit times for critical areas
  • All-weather, day-and-night collection capability
  • Time-series data for change detection and monitoring

Target Users: Insurance carriers, reinsurers, parametric insurance providers, government agencies, commercial enterprises

Capella Console (Automated Tasking Platform)

Cloud-based end-to-end TCPED (Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, Dissemination) system for rapid SAR data acquisition.

Key Features

  • Self-service web console and REST API access
  • 15-minute scheduling cycles
  • Fully automated collection request pipeline
  • Custom tasking policies and tailored performance parameters

Target Users: Intelligence analysts, insurance risk teams, mission operators, enterprise data integrators

Space Systems

Custom-designed Acadia-class SAR satellite systems for sovereign space capabilities and dedicated mission requirements.

Key Features

  • Third-generation Acadia-class satellite platform
  • Up to 10 minutes of imaging per orbit with extended duty cycle
  • Sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbit configurations
  • Fully integrated ground infrastructure included

Target Users: National security organizations, government agencies, defense contractors

Analytics Partner Program

Industry ecosystem enabling certified analytics partners to build and distribute earth observation-powered products using Capella's SAR data.

Key Features

  • Certified partner vetting and onboarding
  • Access to automated tasking API for rapid collection requests
  • Data integration for flood mapping, damage assessment, maritime monitoring

Target Users: Analytics companies, parametric insurance providers, data services firms

At a Glance

Founded
2016
Headquarters
Louisville, Colorado, USA
Employees
201-500
Funding
Acquired

Category & Focus

Category
Data & Analytics
Subcategories
Geospatial Intelligence Earth Observation Parametric Insurance Data Satellite Imagery
Insurance Verticals
P&C Commercial Specialty/E&S Reinsurance
Target Customers
Carriers, Reinsurers, MGAs/MGUs

Customers

  • National Reconnaissance Office
  • NASA
  • U.S. Space Force
  • U.S. Air Force (USD 15M contract, September 2024)
  • BAE Systems
  • U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

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Last updated: 2026-04-09