Orbital Sidekick hyperspectral imagery sheds light on damage caused to Iranian nuclear facility

SAN FRANCISCO – Orbital Sidekick hyperspectral sensors revealed new information on damage sustained by Iran’s Fordow nuclear fuel enrichment plant after U.S. armed forces bombed the site in June.

OSK’s Global Hyperspectral Observation Satellite (GHOSt) constellation exposed the outline of a rectangular subsurface structure, indicating “the potential collapse or damage of the underground facility,” according to an OSK white paper. Analysts also detected the spectral signature of concrete near suspected bomb-penetration holes.

“The ability to detect and identify damaged structures or chemical releases from a satellite 500-kilometers away provides a crucial advantage,” Dan Katz, OSK CEO and co-founder, told SpaceNews by email. Airspace restrictions would make it difficult for aircraft or drones to gather similar data, making space-based sensors “the only viable option” for this type of “critical intelligence gathering,” he added.

Startups and established firms operating hyperspectral sensors have long touted their promise for agriculture, mining and land-use monitoring. Damage assessment may be another promising application.

“In the case of Fordow Mountain, OSK has revealed a symmetrical structural component, possibly as a result of damage by the US strike, that was previously not observed in standard electro-optical imagery,” Katz said.

Spectral Analysis

In the future, hyperspectral imagery can offer clues to “unplanned or inadvertent chemical spills or releases that result from damage to storage areas or pipelines caused by human interventions or natural phenomena such as earthquakes or hurricanes, Katz said. “One example is detecting and identifying oil on water or sand due to ruptured oil or fuel tanks after a natural disaster. Another example is observing the extent of a fertilizer spill” from a train derailment.

Immediately after the June 22 bombing, analysts turned to electro-optical imagery to assess the impact. Maxar imagery showed the likely entry holes for the guided bombs and grey material on the land surface, assumed to be concrete. OSK’s analysis showed the grey material included three types of construction concrete.

OSK is “actively engaged in similar projects within the Defense and Intelligence communities, as well as the mining and energy industries, leveraging our technology to address complex challenges from resource exploration to environmental monitoring,” according to the white paper.