Successful launch of Unseenlabs' fourth satellite: French company now has the most advanced constellation in the field of RF signal interception from space

Unseenlabs, the European leader in satellite-based radio frequency (RF) geolocation of ships at sea, has successfully deployed the fourth satellite in its fleet. 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 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. About Unseenlabs Founded in 2015, Unseenlabs is an innovative company of French origin, a European leader in satellite-based RF geolocation of ships at sea. Its proprietary onboard satellite technology allows for the geolocation of any vessel at sea in near-real-time, to the nearest kilometer, from a single nano-satellite.

Unseenlabs provides a wide range of maritime stakeholders with accurate and up-to-date vessel position data, enabling better monitoring of activities at sea. Whether it is to meet maritime companies' data needs or help institutions and organizations fight against illegal and anti-environmental behaviors, such as illegal fishing or illegal waste dumping, the Unseenlabs service is a tool to serve the oceans.

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