Compact radar system redefining earth monitoring

August 20, 2025

A groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and the innovative aerospace startup Aloft Sensing has led to the creation of HALE InSAR, a next-generation radar system designed to detect incredibly small changes in Earth’s surface with millimeter-level precision.

A lightweight powerhouse
Weighing less than 15 pounds and drawing under 300 watts of power—about the same as an electric bike—HALE InSAR is small, efficient, and remarkably powerful. This compact design enables it to measure terrain shifts, snowpack variations, and volcanic activity with unprecedented accuracy.

Unlike traditional radar sensors, HALE InSAR operates without relying on GPS. Instead, it uses advanced self-positioning algorithms that ensure exceptional accuracy. As Brian Pollard, Chief Engineer at Aloft Sensing, explains:
“Synthetic Aperture Radar is like a long-exposure camera, but with radio waves. Precise positioning is critical—otherwise, your images blur.”

Designed for high-altitude endurance
The radar system is specifically engineered for HALE platforms—high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft capable of staying airborne for weeks or even months. These platforms can revisit the same geographic location multiple times per hour, making them ideal for tracking gradual geologic or environmental changes.

The underlying technology, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), compares sequential radar images to detect subtle surface movements. Conventional InSAR instruments are far too large for lightweight aircraft, but HALE InSAR changes that.

With its flat phased-array antenna and electronically steered radar beam, the system eliminates heavy gimbals and moving parts, combining efficiency with precision.

Transforming Disaster Monitoring and Security
By tracking minute ground deformations, HALE InSAR has the potential to serve as an early-warning system for natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and landslides. Its ability to function without GPS also makes it well-suited for remote regions, disaster zones, and national security operations.

Lauren Wye, CEO of Aloft Sensing, emphasized its transformative potential:
“This level of sensitivity has always required bulky, expensive hardware. With HALE InSAR, we’ve broken that barrier. The applications for science, civil engineering, and security are enormous.”

From stratospheric balloons to satellites
HALE InSAR has already proven itself in real-world tests, flying aboard stratospheric balloons at 65,000 feet and lightweight airships. The next phase will place it on fixed-wing HALE aircraft, and the long-term vision includes deploying the radar on small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

The project was supported by NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), which funded the development of its electronically steered antenna and agile, software-defined transceiver. This support has enabled Aloft Sensing to move from prototype to proven technology, attracting both civilian and military interest.

A new era for compact radar technology
HALE InSAR represents a paradigm shift in Earth observation technology. With its combination of compact size, GPS-independent navigation, and millimeter-scale accuracy, this radar system is set to revolutionize how scientists, governments, and agencies monitor our planet.

For researchers and decision-makers alike, HALE InSAR offers a powerful new tool to understand Earth’s dynamic processes in real time—from tracking snowpack stability to predicting volcanic hazards—all while remaining lightweight, energy-efficient, and versatile enough for multiple platforms.