Varuna Mission
Piersight
In-orbit demonstration of Synthetic Aperture Radar in a CubeSat form factor.
Technical specifications
- Mission type
- In-orbit SAR technology demonstrator
- Form factor
- CubeSat
- Frequency band
- X-band
- Launch date
- 30 December 2024
- Launch vehicle
- PSLV, ISRO POEM platform
- Target readiness
- Technology Readiness Level 9
- Key subsystems
- Software-defined radio/radar, Reflectarray antenna and feed, Solid State Power Amplifier, Electronic Power Conditioner, deployable mechanisms, mechanical/thermal system
About
Varuna is PierSight’s in-orbit demonstration of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) in a CubeSat form factor. It launched on 30 December 2024 aboard a PSLV on ISRO’s POEM platform. Varuna is a technology demonstrator intended to achieve flight-worthiness of PierSight’s subsystems ahead of its operational maritime surveillance constellation; upon mission completion, the subsystems will have reached Technology Readiness Level 9, the highest level. Varuna is equipped with six advanced subsystems: a software-defined radio and radar for generation and reception of radar and communication signals in the X-band; mechanical and thermal systems for protection, heat dissipation and antenna deployment; an Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC) converting raw DC voltages for subsystem power needs; a reflectarray antenna and feed for ground-station data transmission and reception; a Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) for RF signal transmission; and reflectarray deployable mechanisms (hinges, torsion springs, dampers) for antenna deployment. The hardware underwent deployment and vibration testing to validate space-readiness.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.
