# PhoeniX
*sensor . products*

MetaSensing lightweight modular X-band SAR payload for microsatellites with Stripmap and Spotlight modes.

## Specifications
- **manufacturer**: metasensing
- **sensor**: {"instrument_family":"sar","measurement_principle":"active","frequency_band":"X","centre_frequency_mhz":9600,"chirp_bandwidth_mhz":500,"polarisation_modes":["single-polarisation"],"modes":[{"name":"Spotlight HR","resolution_range_m":0.3,"resolution_azimuth_m":0.3,"swath_km":5,"polarisation":"single-polarisation"},{"name":"Spotlight","resolution_range_m":0.5,"resolution_azimuth_m":1,"swath_km":10,"polarisation":"single-polarisation"},{"name":"Stripmap HR","resolution_range_m":0.5,"resolution_azimuth_m":1.7,"swath_km":30,"polarisation":"single-polarisation"},{"name":"Stripmap","resolution_range_m":1,"resolution_azimuth_m":1.7,"swath_km":30,"polarisation":"single-polarisation"},{"name":"Stripmap LR","resolution_range_m":2,"resolution_azimuth_m":1.7,"swath_km":30,"polarisation":"single-polarisation"}],"notes":"Operator sources state X-band; exact centre frequency not published. April 2025 brochure gives slotted-waveguide antenna, mass >50 kg, up to 500 MHz bandwidth, and 0.3 m finest spotlight resolution. Product page states weight starts from 40 kg in one section and 50-60 kg elsewhere; use April 2025 brochure for current technical table."}
- **deployment context**: orbital
- **entity type**: sensor
- **last verified date**: 2026-05-26
- **verified by**: operator
- **claim status**: unclaimed
- **provider**: metasensing
- **attributes**: {"kind":"sensor","product_status":null,"manufacturer":"metasensing","description":"MetaSensing lightweight modular X-band SAR payload for microsatellites with Stripmap and Spotlight modes.","sensor":"{\"instrument_family\":\"sar\",\"measurement_principle\":\"active\",\"frequency_band\":\"X\",\"centre_frequency_mhz\":9600,\"chirp_bandwidth_mhz\":500,\"polarisation_modes\":[\"single-polarisation\"],\"modes\":[{\"name\":\"Spotlight HR\",\"resolution_range_m\":0.3,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":0.3,\"swath_km\":5,\"polarisation\":\"single-polarisation\"},{\"name\":\"Spotlight\",\"resolution_range_m\":0.5,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":1,\"swath_km\":10,\"polarisation\":\"single-polarisation\"},{\"name\":\"Stripmap HR\",\"resolution_range_m\":0.5,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":1.7,\"swath_km\":30,\"polarisation\":\"single-polarisation\"},{\"name\":\"Stripmap\",\"resolution_range_m\":1,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":1.7,\"swath_km\":30,\"polarisation\":\"single-polarisation\"},{\"name\":\"Stripmap LR\",\"resolution_range_m\":2,\"resolution_azimuth_m\":1.7,\"swath_km\":30,\"polarisation\":\"single-polarisation\"}],\"notes\":\"Operator sources state X-band; exact centre frequency not published. April 2025 brochure gives slotted-waveguide antenna, mass >50 kg, up to 500 MHz bandwidth, and 0.3 m finest spotlight resolution. Product page states weight starts from 40 kg in one section and 50-60 kg elsewhere; use April 2025 brochure for current technical table.\"}","bus":null,"ground_segment":null,"launcher":null,"analysis_service":null,"deployment_context":"orbital"}
- **technology**: radar

## Editorial
PhoeniX is a MetaSensing lightweight modular X-band SAR payload for microsatellites.[^phoenix-brochure-apr-2025]

Its April 2025 configuration uses a slotted-waveguide antenna, mass above 50 kg, up to 500 MHz bandwidth, and single-polarisation operation.[^phoenix-brochure-apr-2025]

PhoeniX supports Spotlight HR at 0.3 m range and azimuth resolution over 5 km, Spotlight at 0.5 m range and 1 m azimuth resolution over 10 km, and Stripmap modes from 0.5 m to 2 m range resolution with 1.7 m azimuth resolution over 30 km.[^phoenix-brochure-apr-2025]

The April 2025 brochure specifies 0.3 m as the finest Spotlight HR resolution; the product page and earlier brochure show 0.5 m as best resolution.[^phoenix-product-page][^phoenix-brochure-apr-2025]

PhoeniX was prepared for launch as a SAR payload.[^phoenix-launch-blog]

| Methodology | Evidence |
|---|---|
| SAR backscatter change detection | Capable.[^phoenix-brochure-apr-2025] |

## Sources
- [phoenix-brochure-apr-2025] | Brochure PhoeniX MetaSensing | https://metasensing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Brochure-PhoeniX_-MetaSensing-2.pdf | tier=operator-datasheet | accessed=2026-05-26
- [phoenix-product-page] | PhoeniX product page | https://metasensing.com/phoenix/ | tier=operator-marketing | accessed=2026-05-26
- [phoenix-launch-blog] | MetaSensing PhoeniX SAR payload gears up for launch | https://metasensing.com/metasensings-phoenix-sar-payload-gears-up-for-launch/ | tier=operator-press | accessed=2026-05-26

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/phoenix-sar
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)