Albedo

Albedo develops very-low-earth-orbit (VLEO) satellites designed to capture ultra-high-resolution Earth imagery. The company's satellites collect 10-centimeter resolution optical imagery and 2-meter resolution thermal infrared imagery simultaneously, enabling users to merge both types of data. Operating at altitudes between 250 and 450 kilometers, Albedo's refrigerator-sized satellites use electric propulsion for station keeping, which helps reduce operational costs significantly compared to traditional high-resolution satellite imaging methods. The company's platform includes a cloud-based image delivery system that provides sensor, radiometric, atmospheric, and geometric correction of images, along with spatiotemporal asset catalog (STAC) compliant and analysis-ready data imagery products. The technology serves various applications including precision agriculture, HD mapping, property insurance, utilities vegetation management, construction, real estate, pipeline monitoring, and urban planning. As of January 2021, Albedo had secured letters of intent valued at USD 56 million. The company plans to launch its first satellite in 2024, with aims to establish a constellation of 24 satellites by 2027, which will enable imagery updates five times per day over any location.

Key customers and partnerships

In April 2023, Albedo received a USD 1.25 million contract from the US National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) to support nighttime thermal imaging operations. The company partnered with Belgium-based Aerospacelab in August 2023 to acquire their product suite for Albedo's first VLEO satellite. The company's technology has garnered interest from the US Space Force for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications.