Umbra
Umbra is a US space technology company specializing in high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery with 25cm resolution capabilities. The company serves government and commercial customers through direct sales, custom satellite solutions, and the Canopy self-service tasking platform, with a growing Space Systems hardware business.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersArlington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Umbra does
Umbra is a US-based space technology company specializing in high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery and data products, founded in 2015 in Santa Barbara, California by David Langan and Gabe Dominocielo. The company operates a vertically integrated business model spanning proprietary sensor design, satellite manufacturing, and data product delivery, with a constellation of satellites capable of 25cm ground sampling distance (GSD) resolution and all-weather, day-or-night imaging. Umbra's technology stack combines proprietary deployable antenna systems, 1,200MHz bandwidth radar, and advanced processing algorithms to deliver what the company describes as industry-leading resolution and revisit rates—claiming up to 7x more imagery over high-demand areas than commercial competitors.
The company generates revenue through multiple channels: direct sales of SAR imagery to government and commercial customers, custom satellite mission solutions, and its Canopy self-service satellite tasking platform. Umbra's customer base is anchored by US national security agencies including the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Development Agency (SDA). In August 2025, Umbra expanded into space hardware components with the launch of its Space Systems business unit, offering nine flight-proven hardware components across power, control, communications, and deployment categories, marking a strategic diversification beyond data services.
Umbra has secured multiple major government contracts, including selection for the NRO's Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) program across multiple stages, with contract ceilings reaching $950M. The company has expanded its physical footprint significantly, opening a 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility in 2025 and investing $6.75M in a Reston, Virginia facility in early 2026. As of 2026, Umbra employs 101-250 people across offices in Santa Barbara, California, Arlington, Virginia, and Reston, Virginia. The company has raised $32M in equity financing and maintains leadership with deep space technology and defense industry expertise.
Umbra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Umbra
- Legal name
- Umbra Lab, Inc.
- Website
- https://umbra.space
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Umbra is a US space technology company specializing in high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery with 25cm resolution capabilities. The company serves government and commercial customers through direct sales, custom satellite solutions, and the Canopy self-service tasking platform, with a growing Space Systems hardware business.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Umbra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Earth Observation
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where Umbra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Umbra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Remote Sensing Data Products: Umbra sells high-resolution SAR imagery and data products to government and commercial customers through its Remote Sensing business line. Customers can task satellites directly through the Canopy platform or through channel partners.
- Mission Solutions: Custom satellite solutions for governments and large multinational corporations. Umbra builds and sells complete satellite systems, individual components (bus, payload, antenna), full constellations, ground and flight software, and offers flexible ownership models including customer-owned, customer-owned/Umbra-operated, and Umbra-owned/cost-share models.
- Space Systems Components: Sale of nine flight-proven hardware components across four categories: Power (battery module, solar array, power package), Control (magnetometer/sun sensor package, reaction wheel, magnetorquer), Communications (network switch, S-band radio), and Deployment (synchronized four-point separation system).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Self-service satellite tasking with transparent, universal pricing |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Government and enterprise SAR data contracts |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom satellite and mission solutions |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Umbra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Umbra designs, builds, and operates a constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) microsatellites that deliver high-resolution (25cm) Earth observation imagery capable of imaging through clouds, smoke, and darkness. The company sells this SAR data and imagery through its Canopy self-service tasking platform, offers custom satellite mission solutions (full constellations, subsystems, and ground/flight software) to governments and large corporations, and commercializes nine flight-proven spacecraft hardware components (power, control, communications, and deployment systems) to satellite operators and integrators worldwide.
Product overview
Umbra is an American space technology company organized around three core product lines: Remote Sensing (SAR data delivered via the Canopy self-service platform), Mission Solutions (custom satellite and constellation sales), and Space Systems (flight-proven hardware components). The Remote Sensing line includes multiple imaging modes (Dwell, Spotlight, Scan) and a full suite of data products in industry-standard formats (CPHD, SICD, NITF, SIDD, GEC GeoTIFF, CSI, SAR Video) plus Open Data. The Mission Solutions line offers governments and corporations the ability to purchase complete satellites, individual subsystems, or full turnkey constellations. Space Systems — launched in August 2025 — commercializes nine flight-proven hardware components across Power (Battery Module, Solar Array, Power Package), Control (Magnetometer and Sun Sensor Package, Reaction Wheel, Magnetorquer), Communications (Network Switch, S-Band Radio), and Deployment (Sync Release) categories. Umbra also participates in the Site3D 3D Earth observation product via a partnership with Array Labs and Raytheon. Data licensing is permissive under CC BY 4.0, and access is managed through the Canopy self-service platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Canopy: Self-service satellite tasking platform allowing customers to directly task Umbra satellites without complex contracts or human interaction.
- Mission Solutions
- Space Systems
Products and services
- Remote Sensing (SAR Data Service) Umbra's primary service delivering high-volume, high-quality Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery globally to government and commercial customers. Provides all-weather, day-or-night imaging at industry-leading 25cm resolution, available via the Canopy self-service tasking platform or direct contracts.
- Canopy Self-Service Tasking Platform Cloud-native, self-service satellite tasking platform enabling customers to directly task Umbra satellites without complex contracts or human interaction. Features transparent scheduling, permissive licensing, universal pricing, and automated satellite operations.
- Mission Solutions Custom satellite mission services for governments and large multinational corporations, offering individual components (bus, payload, antenna), full constellations including formation flying technology, ground and flight software, and flexible ownership models (full handoff, customer-owned/Umbra-operated, or Umbra-owned/cost-share).
- Space Systems Hardware Components Flight-proven, American-made spacecraft hardware portfolio sold to global operators, integrators, and mission builders. Includes nine components across Power (Battery Module, Solar Array, Power Package), Control (Magnetometer and Sun Sensor Package, Reaction Wheel, Magnetorquer), Communications (Network Switch, S-Band Radio), and Deployment (Sync Release synchronized four-point separation system).
- Site3D 3D Earth Observation 3D Earth observation product developed in partnership with Array Labs and Raytheon, combining Umbra's SAR technology with Raytheon's 3D processing algorithms to create SAR point clouds, digital surface models (DSMs), and volumetric estimation and change detection for high-value landscapes and facilities.
- Open Data Program Freely available SAR sample and archival data products released by Umbra under open licensing to support research and development, including over $4 million in free SAR data released in 2024.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5x more data collected than other providers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Umbra
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Umbra technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature9 records
Umbra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- NASAmajorCSDA Program data agreement for supplying multispectral and SAR data for Earth science research. Umbra is one of seven commercial partners providing high-resolution SAR capabilities including tasked Spotlight, StripMap, Scan, and Wide modes.
- e-GEOS (Telespazio/Leonardo)coreMulti-year strategic agreement to jointly develop geospatial intelligence solutions combining Umbra's SAR constellation with e-GEOS's COSMO-SkyMed satellite data. Partnership divides geographic responsibilities: e-GEOS serves Europe and South America while Umbra leads in North America, Asia, and other territories. e-GEOS applies proprietary AI to Umbra's SAR data for new analytics products.
- Reflex AerospacemajorAgreement to provide turnkey cutting-edge SAR solutions to European market. Umbra customizes SAR solutions for integration by Reflex into dedicated satellite bus. First satellite targeted to launch in 2027 with European-focused supply chain.
- SpaceWERX (AFWERX)majorSTRATFI program participant developing next-generation spacecraft for DoD. Matching funds can enable development valued up to $60M. Defense Innovation Unit supporting advancement with R&D funds over 3 years.
- Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)majorSupporting STRATFI efforts with R&D funds over 3 years to bring best commercial solutions to DoD space efforts.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)coreCRADA agreement supporting NGA's Commercial GEOINT strategy. Umbra aids NGA in enhancing operational resiliency, readiness, and development of new data collection modes. Collaboration focuses on novel SAR and RF applications.
- Array LabscoreThree-way partnership with Array Labs and Raytheon to accelerate Site3D 3D Earth observation product deployment. Umbra provides SAR data combined with Raytheon's 3D processing algorithms to create three-dimensional models for commercial and government customers.
- RaytheoncorePartnership leverages Raytheon's 20+ years of 3D processing algorithms adapted for SAR applications. Raytheon provides electro-optical imagery expertise for accurate 3D results unrestricted by cloud coverage.
- National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)coreStage III of NRO Commercial Radar Capabilities contract as part of Strategic Commercial Enhancements initiative. Emphasizes scaling SAR data delivery for disaster response, environmental monitoring, and crisis management.
- Space Development Agency (SDA)coreMulti-million dollar contract to demonstrate feasibility of integrating Umbra's commercial optical inter-satellite link into SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
- DARPAcorePhase II of DRIFT program leveraging multiple Umbra SAR satellites in formation for developing groundbreaking processing algorithms and on-orbit multistatic demonstration.
- UP42minorPartnership enhancing environmental, asset, and land monitoring through UP42's geospatial marketplace platform.
- European Space Imaging (EUSI)minorPartnership to offer Umbra SAR imagery to European remote sensing projects.
- MaxarmajorMaxar secured dedicated access to Umbra's SAR constellation for integration into Maxar's commercial satellite imagery offerings.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Umbra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Capella Space: US-based commercial SAR satellite operator offering high-resolution SAR imagery to government and commercial customers. Closest direct competitor to Umbra with overlapping product offerings (tasking, archive data, analytics) and similar target market in US defense/intel.
- ICEYE: Finnish-founded commercial SAR constellation operator and one of Umbra's primary global competitors. Operates a large and growing SAR fleet, sells SAR data and analytics to defense, civil government, and commercial customers worldwide.
Regional players
- Synspective: Japan-based SAR satellite operator building a commercial X-band SAR constellation. Comparable technology stack and commercial SAR data offering, focused primarily on the Japanese and broader Asia-Pacific market.
Broad incumbents
- e-GEOS (Telespazio/Italian Space Agency): Operates the COSMO-SkyMed SAR constellation for the Italian Space Agency and is Umbra's strategic distribution partner for Europe and South America. A leading incumbent in commercial and government SAR with broader geospatial analytics offerings.
- Maxar Technologies: Largest US commercial high-resolution optical satellite imagery provider and a Umbra channel partner (dedicated constellation access for integration into Maxar offerings). Competes broadly in defense/intel GEOINT while now reselling SAR alongside optical.
- Planet Labs: US-based operator of the largest commercial Earth observation satellite fleet, focused on daily-cadence optical imagery. Broad incumbent in commercial remote sensing with overlapping government and commercial customers to Umbra.
- Airbus Defence and Space: Operates the TerraSAR-X and PAZ commercial SAR constellations plus a broad portfolio of optical and defense space systems. Largest European incumbent in SAR imagery and a potential competitor for both US-aligned and international government contracts.
Emerging players
- BlackSky: US-based operator of a small-satellite EO constellation with tasking and analytics services. Smaller and more niche than Umbra but targets overlapping defense and intelligence customers for situational awareness and monitoring.
- Satellogic: Argentina/US operator building a low-Earth-orbit constellation for high-resolution optical and hyperspectral imagery. Targets similar commercial and government Earth observation customers, though not a SAR peer.
- Pixxel: India/US hyperspectral imaging satellite startup building a commercial constellation. Competes for adjacent Earth observation budgets with a differentiated spectral offering rather than SAR.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Umbra social profiles
Digital presenceUmbra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Umbra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Umbra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors19 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Umbra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Umbra
What does Umbra do?
Umbra designs, builds, and operates a constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) microsatellites that deliver high-resolution (25cm) Earth observation imagery capable of imaging through clouds, smoke, and darkness. The company sells this SAR data and imagery through its Canopy self-service tasking platform, offers custom satellite mission solutions (full constellations, subsystems, and ground/flight software) to governments and large corporations, and commercializes nine flight-proven spacecraft hardware components (power, control, communications, and deployment systems) to satellite operators and integrators worldwide.
Is Umbra a public or private company?
Umbra is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Umbra founded?
Umbra was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Umbra based?
Umbra is headquartered in Arlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Umbra make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Remote Sensing Data Products are the primary driver. The others are mission Solutions and space Systems Components.
Who are Umbra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Capella Space and ICEYE. Synspective is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are e-GEOS (Telespazio/Italian Space Agency), Maxar Technologies, Planet Labs and Airbus Defence and Space. Emerging players are BlackSky, Satellogic and Pixxel.
Does Umbra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Umbra.
What industry is Umbra in?
Umbra's product category is Satellite Earth Observation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAM, Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms, with a secondary code of IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.