The commercial remote sensing industry is on the rise but needs more backing from the government to reach its full potential, according to a report released Wednesday.
The 45-page report from Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology was written by Maj. Michael O’Connor, a Space Force fellow at the center, and research analyst Kathleen Curlee.
Exponential: It’s not just your imagination—commercial remote sensing is taking off. New companies in the sector were founded ten times faster in 2015 than they were a decade earlier, and though growth has slowed from that peak, it remains high due to four reasons, according to the report.
- Tech development, including the shrinking size of sensors
- The decreasing costs of getting into orbit
- New ways to fund business ideas, including VC backing
- Stable regulations
Overcoming challenges: Despite its impressive growth, the industry is facing a series of challenges, according to the report.
- Too little exploration of benefits offered by infrared, hyperspectral, and VLEO imaging capabilities
- The debris created by the large constellations required for imaging
- The threat of adversaries targeting commercial imaging sats
Recommendations: The paper highlights a few recommendations to address some of these problems:
- Boost government purchases from both commercial remote sensing companies and space data analysis companies
- Review regulations to see whether limited “location-specific controls” could better protect allies or US troops in times of conflict
- Continue federal investments to develop cutting edge sensing technology
