SAOCOM satellite series are Argentina's first Remote Sensing mission carrying a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) as main payload. SAOCOM-1 mission is composed of two satellites (1A and 1B) to be launched consecutively. SAOCOM-1A is the fourth mission within Argentina's National Space Plan.

Design drivers for mission definition and payload selection consider compatibility and complementation with other existing SAR satellites with regard to image downlink and proper radar band & performances selection. Presently, it is planned to make SAOCOM-1A a part of the joint Italo-Argentine SIASGE constellation (Sistema Italo-Argentino de Satélites para Gestión de Emergencias). This constellation will also feature the COSMO-SkyMed satellites.

The SAOCOM series features mainly microwave instruments. One of these is a L-Band radar system which will allow to "see" in the dark of the night, as well as through clouds and foliage. To a point it will also penetrate the ground to some extent, to measure moisture content and even determine the depth and direction of flow of ground water.

The mission is headed by CONAE. INVAP is the prime contractor for the design and construction of the SAOCOM-1 spacecraft and its SAR payload, currently under development. The SAOCOM-1 spacecraft will benefit from the heritage of the SAC-C spacecraft platform.

SAOCOM-1 instrumentation:

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), an L-Band instrument featuring standard, high resolution and global coverage operational modes with resolution ranging from 7 m to 100 m, and swath within 50 km to 400 km. It features a dedicated high capacity Solid State Recorder (50 to 100 Gbits) for image storage, and a high bit rate downlink system (two X-band channels at 150 Mbits/s each).