SMALL SATELLITES RISE IN SIGNIFICANCE

摘要

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency recently inked a deal to acquire a new crop of commercial satellite imagery from San Francisco-based provider Planet. The contract is interesting in part because of what it offers in terms of imagery: a view that covers 85 percent of the Earth's landmass, refreshed every 15 days. Equally significant, though, is the nod this $20 million contract gives to the rising significance of small satellites. As NGA looks to increase the variety of its intel and the flexibility of its platforms, small-satellite arrays like that offered by Planet are assuming an ever more important role.