UK launches first military satellite for daytime earth observation

The UK has successfully launched its first military satellite capable of capturing daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface.

According to the British Ministry of Defence, Named Tyche, the satellite will enhance British armed forces operations and support various functions including natural disaster monitoring, mapping information development, and global climate change tracking, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Tyche, which is roughly the size of a washing machine, was designed and built in the UK under a £22 million contract awarded to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). It is notable for being the first satellite fully owned by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The satellite’s first signals were received a few hours after its launch on Friday night. The successful deployment from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California was carried out by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Transporter-11 mission.

Tyche marks the initial launch in a constellation of satellites planned under the MoD’s space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programme.