Marketplace Tech How commercial satellites are defining modern warfare
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Jun 25, 2025 Mariel Borowitz, an associate professor at Georgia Tech specializing in space policy, dives into how commercial satellite imagery is changing modern warfare. She highlights the crucial role these images played in monitoring Iranian nuclear sites and supporting Ukraine during the Russian conflict. Mariel discusses the rise of companies like Planet Labs and their cutting-edge technology that is accessible beyond military use. Furthermore, she emphasizes the implications for public awareness and the challenges of interpreting this rapidly evolving data.
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Commercial Satellites Surpass Military
- Ukraine leveraged commercial satellites to gain better imagery capabilities than Russia's military satellites.
- Commercial satellites provide high-resolution images and frequent revisit rates for timely situational awareness.
Diverse Commercial Satellite Capabilities
- Different types of commercial satellites offer diverse capabilities like high-resolution, frequent revisits, and radar imaging.
- Radar satellites allow seeing through clouds and at night, enhancing surveillance regardless of conditions.
Planet Labs and Radar Firms Lead
- Planet Labs pioneered the concept of large satellite constellations for quick global revisit rates.
- Companies like Umbra and Capella use radar satellites to see through clouds and at night.