Ils traquent les navires pirates qui tentent de disparaître — Clément Galic (Unseenlabs)
Summary
Clément, co-founder of Unseen Labs, discusses how his startup uses small satellites to detect ships that disable their transponders by capturing their unique radio frequency signatures from space. This technology reveals illegal activities like smuggling, piracy, and undersea cable sabotage, as demonstrated by tracking a Chinese vessel in the Baltic Sea. The episode covers the technical challenges of launching these satellites, the economic implications of monitoring maritime traffic, and future applications for terrestrial frequency regulation.
Topics discussed
Intro and Liquid IV sponsorship
Introduction to Unseen Labs and Clément
New Space and small satellite technology
RF detection vs traditional observation
AIS transponders and why boats turn them off
Illegal fishing, piracy, and geopolitical tensions
Case study: Chinese boat and Baltic Sea cables
Satellite hardware and payload design
RF signatures and unique boat identification
Data coverage and complementary sensors
Government, defense, and commercial clients
Tracking phantom fleets and Russian sanctions
Terrestrial applications and spectrum monitoring
Launch logistics, costs, and insurance
Space debris, regulation, and risks
Outro and final sponsorships
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