Privacy experts have been wary of space intrusion for decades, as they feared satellites with strong capabilities to magnify individuals' images, capturing close-up photos that could distinguish adults from children, or sunbathers from others.

A New Category of Satellites

Now, surprisingly, as analysts say, a startup company is building a new category of satellites that will operate their powerful cameras with precision for the first time. Tovir Haddad, the CEO of "Albedo Space," the new satellite manufacturing company, said in an interview, "We are fully aware of the implications for privacy." He stated that his company's technology would photograph people but would not be able to recognize them.

Haddad added that "Albedo" is taking administrative steps to address privacy-related concerns.

Anyone living in the modern world is aware of the diminishing privacy amidst a significant increase in security cameras, tracking devices integrated into smartphones, facial recognition systems, drones, and other forms of digital surveillance.

Warnings of Terrifying Aerial Surveillance

But what makes aerial surveillance terrifying, as experts say, is its ability to invade areas that were previously inherently off-limits. Jennifer Lynch, the general counsel for the "Electronic Frontier Foundation," which urged civil satellite regulators in 2019 to address this issue, said, "This is a giant camera in the sky; any government can use it at any time without our knowledge. We should definitely be concerned."

In contrast to this concern, Haddad and other supporters of "Albedo's" technology say that real benefits must be balanced, especially when it comes to disaster combat and life-saving. Dr. James Baker, the former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which licenses civil imaging satellites in the country, said, "The camera will know which house is on fire and where people are fleeing."

Advisors from Intelligence and the Pentagon

Headquartered in the Denver area with 50 employees, "Albedo Space" has raised nearly $100 million. Haddad said it plans to launch its first satellite in early 2025. Eventually, he expects a fleet of 24 space vehicles.

Investors in "Albedo" include "Breakthrough Energy Ventures," the investment company owned by Bill Gates. The "Albedo" strategic advisory board includes former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, an arm of the Pentagon.

The company's website does not mention any images of people or privacy issues. Nevertheless, reconnaissance experts say legal regulators need to wake up before spacecraft begin capturing first close-ups of them. Linda Zall, a former CIA official whose career spanned decades and included some of the country's most powerful spy satellites, said, "It's a big deal." She predicted that these capabilities would hit the ground when people realize that the things they try to hide in their backyards can now be seen with new clarity.

Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Harvard University who publishes a monthly report on civil and military space developments, said, "This brings us one step closer to an Orwellian type world where Big Brother watches."

Camera Precision Distinguishes Individuals

While spacecraft have long studied the planet from orbit, the potential for satellite observation of civilian life has been relegated due to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster since an American non-military satellite captured an image on April 29, 1986, showing that the reactor core had been torn in a fiery breach, leading to the ejection of deadly radioactive debris into the atmosphere.

Experts warn that the rapidly expected improvement in image quality will lead to television news directors seeking unrestricted access to satellite images that could ultimately track everything from troop movements to the hot tub in the backyard.

This technical improvement makes the new images hundreds of times more detailed and revealing. The satellite that photographed Chernobyl in 1986 was known as "Landsat." NASA built it to monitor crops, forests, and other resources on Earth. Its vehicle camera could detect ground objects up to 30 meters in size. In contrast, the length of Chernobyl was about one kilometer. Thus, analysts could easily see it and the exploded reactor.

Today, the most powerful civil imaging satellites can distinguish between ground objects extending up to 30 centimeters or about a foot in diameter. The images allow analysts to distinguish road signs and even aircraft tail numbers. "Albedo" aims to leap forward by photographing small objects up to 10 centimeters, or 4 inches, across.

Low-Earth Orbits

Haddad founded "Albedo" with Winston Trie, a former software engineer at "Facebook," and Ai Guy Lasater, a former satellite engineer at "Lockheed Martin." They saw a commercial market for 10-centimeter images.

Their solution was to place satellites in very low orbits, relatively close to the ground areas being explored. This would allow a fleet of satellites to use smaller cameras and telescopes, reducing costs.

If "Landsat" was orbiting over 400 miles high when it photographed Chernobyl, by contrast, the founders of "Albedo" planned for low orbits up to 100 miles.

At low altitudes, spacecraft cut through the planet's thin outer atmosphere, potentially slowing them down and shortening their orbital life. "Albedo's" vehicle, slightly larger than a full-sized refrigerator, will use booster jets to combat atmospheric drag. In December 2021, "Albedo" received regulatory approval to launch a 10-centimeter resolution imaging satellite.

The military and national intelligence agencies quickly noticed its technology. In 2022, the company received a $1.25 million contract with the Air Force to determine if its equipment could meet the standard classification scale measuring image interpretability. Tests included identifying devices in electronics trucks, fighter aircraft covers, and rocket tubes on warships. In 2023, the company received another $1.25 million contract, this time with the "National Air and Space Intelligence Center," which assesses foreign threats.

Monitoring Truck Loads

Promoting the surveillance power of its fleet, Trie, "Albedo's" co-founder, said space cameras could detect vehicle details such as sunroof openings, racing lines, and objects in a flatbed truck. He said, "In some cases, we may be able to identify specific vehicles, which was not possible until now."

The company expects civil customers to include city planners looking for potholes on roads, wildlife conservation groups tracking wildlife, insurance companies surveying roof damage, and power line companies seeking to prevent forest fires.

"Project" Intervention in Privacy

Legal experts point out that drones are subject to strict surveillance under federal laws, state laws, and local laws, making them vulnerable to trespass claims and privacy violations. No-fly zones not only include airports, military bases, and sporting events but also individuals. For example, California law prohibits drone operators, without permission, from capturing images of people engaged in private, personal, or family activities.

Lynch, from the "Electronic Frontier Foundation," said her frustrating experience with satellite regulators half a decade ago suggests that not much will be done to enforce privacy protection from the eyes of the sky. She added that "Albedo" and its supporters "operate unconsciously and do not see the consequences" on human rights.