The way the space industry today approaches Earth observation is primed for innovation, which is why at Capella Space we have taken an entirely different approach to collecting Earth observation data with our proprietary SAR technology. As our team continues to accelerate our vision to provide on-demand radar data and analytics from space, I’m proud to see Capella Space recognized by Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas list.
This annual list celebrates businesses, policies and nonprofits that are poised to shift society to a more sustainable and equitable future — and we are thrilled to be included. At Capella Space, we’re on a mission to democratize Earth observation data because we believe the key to creating a better world lies in the timely observation of our planet, and access to that data shouldn’t be a barrier to innovation.
That’s because Earth observation, when done well, has the power to solve some of the world’s biggest problems. For example, government agencies can use Earth observation data to improve disaster recovery efforts, and environmental organizations can use the data for climate change adaptation or mitigation.
When I was working as a NASA flight system engineer I realized that satellite technology was stuck in the past, and as a result innovation was lagging behind. Even though the first commercial satellites were launched in 1957, Earth observation technology has hardly evolved in the subsequent 60+ years.
I launched Capella Space to fix this problem. From day one, we’ve been building a new, innovative design for Earth observation, using imagery compiled by synthetic aperture radar (SAR). When fully deployed, we’ll be able to offer hourly coverage of every point on Earth through the world’s largest constellation of radar satellites.
At Capella Space, we believe the space-based technologies we’re building will improve commerce, conservation and the well-being of all people through the 21st century and beyond. We are honored to be recognized as a world-changing idea and to be named alongside so many innovative organizations and companies.