With the successful launch of BRO-4 (Breizh Reconnaissance Orbiter-4), the French company now has the most advanced constellation in the field of RF signal interception from space.
Unseenlabs press release
Tuesday morning at 1:47 a.m. UTC (3:47 a.m. French time), Arianespace’s VEGA launch
vehicle placed Unseenlabs’ BRO-4 (Breizh Reconnaissance Orbiter-4) nano-satellite into a
sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of (approximately) 551 km, via Flight VV19.
Unseenlabs, a pioneering French new space start-up, successfully launched its first satellite
(BRO-1) in August 2019. Two years later, it now has the most advanced constellation in its
field. In effect, the company is building a constellation of satellites dedicated to radiofrequency
geolocation that allows customers to monitor and track signals from ships at sea. Applications
range from providing shipping companies with up-to-date vessel position data, to providing
governments with tools to fight illegal fishing.
Unseenlabs’ service performance is increased several-fold with each new launch. The
successful launch of BRO-4 again confirms the leading status of the French company.
Unseenlabs said on April 27 that it had raised 20 million euros to help it grow its constellation
to between 20 and 25 satellites by 2025.
This fourth launch also confirms European know-how: by choosing to collaborate with the
French group Arianespace, Unseenlabs sends a powerful message to all the players in the
new space and European aerospace industries. Collaborations of this kind must be
encouraged over the next few years to guarantee Europe’s sovereignty in this field.
