US gives Indian company access to advanced grade satellite imagery

Similar satellite images were provided to India by the US during the Galwan standoff with China.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

A Gurugram based company is among the initial seven clients who have bought access to satellite imageries that will be clicked by first of its kind satellite capable of capturing extremely high-resolution imagery, operating in very low earth orbit-images so sharp, insiders claim, that historically have been the exclusive purview of American defence and intelligence organisations.

It is pertinent to mention that use of such satellite images was provided to Indian strategists by the US during the Galwan standoff with China. In the same context, Washington during the Kargil war, had refused to share satellite images that were sought by Delhi to identify the locations of the Pakistani intruders that led to more casualties on the Indian side which could have been avoided.

The said commercial satellite, called Clarity, will be placed at a very low earth orbit (VLEO) on SpaceX's Transporter-13 ride-share mission, which is set to launch in February 2025. The satellite is being launched by a Denver, United States, based satellite imagery startup, Albedo. Very low earth orbit is a range of orbital altitudes below 400 km (250 miles).

Albedo is the first company to offer aerial-quality imagery from space. The company was founded in 2020 by Ayjay Lasater, Topher Haddad, and Winston Tri.

The images provided by this satellite, industry insiders said, are likely being sought by various government agencies, either directly or through its private arms, for intelligence purposes, including in India. However, some of the images clicked by this satellite will first have to be vetted by US defence and intelligence agencies before being shared by Albedo with its clients.