The UK military has successfully launched its first dedicated Earth-imaging satellite. Named Tyche, this satellite, roughly the size of a washing machine, is equipped with high-resolution capabilities to monitor battlefield troop movements and vehicles.
Tyche serves as a prototype, paving the way for a future constellation of satellites planned for this decade. These upcoming satellites will feature advanced sensors, with some designed to penetrate cloud cover and intercept radio communications.
Tyche was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket from California, with lift-off occurring at 11:56 local time (19:56 BST). The satellite will orbit the Earth at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers and is expected to function for at least five years.
Historically, UK forces have relied on their advanced satellite communications system, Skynet, and have sought surveillance and reconnaissance imagery from allied nations, especially the United States. With Tyche, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) marks its entry into owning its own imaging capabilities, following previous investments in UK commercial satellite projects.
Commissioned by UK Space Command and constructed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) in Guildford, the 160kg Tyche satellite will capture imagery in optical wavelengths, similar to the light visible to the human eye. It is designed to take detailed images of 5km-wide areas on the ground, with a resolution of up to 90cm.
While this resolution is not the highest possible—some classified US satellites can detect features as small as 10cm—it meets the British military’s general requirements. Tyche was developed following a 2021 Space Command Paper and the 2022 Space Defence Strategy, which committed the previous government to invest £970 million over ten years in a programme known as Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTARI).
The ISTARI programme includes initial research and development efforts with the aim of establishing a sovereign constellation of military and national security satellites. Future satellites in this constellation are expected to feature various technologies, including radar sensors capable of observing the Earth’s surface in all weather conditions and at night—a capability that has proven invaluable for Ukraine in tracking Russian forces.
Maj Gen Paul Tedman, commander of UK Space Command, remarked, “This marks the beginning of our journey. The space defence strategy outlines our path to becoming a significant space power by 2030. We anticipate numerous satellite launches in the coming months and years, with Tyche being the first step in this process.”
SSTL has been collaborating closely with UK Space Command on the ISTARI programme and is aiming to secure additional defense contracts both domestically and internationally. Darren Jones, head of defence business at SSTL, noted, “Many countries are establishing their own space commands, and there is a strong global demand for space capabilities for defense. The Tyche contract demonstrates that the MoD has confidence in our ability to deliver such missions, which could benefit us in future projects with other nations.”
The Tyche satellite is based on SSTL’s Carbonite model, which is designed for quick assembly and cost-effectiveness, with the Tyche contract valued at £22 million. A notable feature of Tyche is its propulsion system, which uses water to generate thrust. Chief Technology Officer Andrew Haslehurst explained, “The water is heated to produce superheated steam, which provides thrust and enables station-keeping. Tyche carries 10 litres of water, enough for five to seven years of operation in orbit.”
Following the publication of the Defence Space Strategy, the Commons Defence Select Committee criticized the UK as being “at best, a third-rank space power,” highlighting concerns about ISTARI’s future given the MoD’s history of delays and budget overruns in major projects. The recent election of a new government has led to a comprehensive review of UK defense needs and spending.
With the growing emphasis on space in future conflicts, it is unlikely that the latest UK defense assessment will diverge significantly from previous strategies. However, policy experts like Julia Balm, a research associate at the Freeman Air and Space Institute at King’s College London, will be closely monitoring developments. She cautioned, “Any negative changes to ISTARI or cutbacks on previously committed strategies would signal the UK’s struggle to manage long-term or large-scale projects and could undermine its commitment to becoming a major space power.”