Ep. 34: Reinventing Maxar: From Earth Observation to Decision Intelligence

About Peter

Peter is the Chief Product Officer of Maxar Intelligence, bringing his passion for maps and 12 years at Palantir Technologies to this renaissance story. At Palantir, Peter developed the famed “ontology” and mapping technologies, helping transition the company's defense business from intelligence operations to real-time operational support. His background in theoretical chemistry gives him a distinctive lens through which he approaches the relationship between models and reality—a tension at the heart of both cartography and defense technology.

About Maxar Intelligence

Maxar Intelligence began as DigitalGlobe, a pioneering Earth observation company. In 2017, Digital Globe was acquired by MDA, which was renamed Maxar. The company underwent significant transformations—being sold in 2019, taken private in 2022, and split into two business units (Maxar Intelligence and Maxar Space) in 2023.

Maxar's bread and butter is high-resolution satellite imagery, specifically 30-centimeter class resolution data. This exquisite imagery serves as a foundation for more sophisticated data products. The company's Legion satellites represent their newest generation of sensing technology.

But beyond imagery collection, Maxar has invested heavily in creating deep integrations with classified government systems—expertise they're now leveraging to create partnership frameworks for smaller, newer space companies. For example, their Direct Access Program allows international customers to install radio antennas and directly task satellites locally, embodying the shift from centralized to distributed space architecture.

For more about Maxar: https://www.maxar.com

For more on Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwilczynski/

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