UK Aims to Strengthen Space Power with New Military Satellite
The UK military is set to launch its first dedicated Earth-imaging satellite, named Tyche. This spacecraft, roughly the size of a washing machine, is designed to provide high-resolution images capable of pinpointing battlefield troop positions and vehicles.
Tyche represents a significant step forward, serving as a prototype for a future network of satellites planned for deployment over the next decade. These upcoming satellites will feature a range of sensors, with some designed to see through clouds and even intercept radio transmissions.
Scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket from California at 11:20 local time (19:20 BST), Tyche will be placed into orbit at approximately 500 kilometers altitude. The mission is expected to operate for at least five years.
While UK forces have long utilized the advanced satellite communications system Skynet, acquiring space-based surveillance and reconnaissance imagery has usually depended on requests to allies, particularly the United States. Tyche marks the UK’s first wholly owned imaging satellite, highlighting a new phase in its independent space capabilities.
