Planet Labs

A new programme aims to prevent and countermand the loss of tropical forests by facilitating the global availability of high-resolution satellite imagery. Launched by Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment in partnership with satellite imagery providers Kongsberg Satellite Services, Planetand Airbus, the Imagery Programme makes use of space-based information to combat the devastating effects of climate change, mitigate disasters and facilitate disaster management efforts worldwide.

In January 2014, Planet Labs, a small San Francisco based Startup Company, delivered a payload of 28 Earth Imaging Satellites or to the International Space Station (ISS) and in February the fleet of shoebox-sized satellites was deployed by ejecting them from an airlock, this fleet of miniature satellites or cubsats measuring 10 cm x 10cm x 30cm aims to revolutionize the space industry by providing cheap miniature satellites with the goal of gaining unparallel insight into real time activity on the Earth’s Surface.