Albedo Satellite Can Potentially Create 'Big Brother' Scenario, Privacy Experts Warn
A new powerful satellite is in the works, but privacy experts warned it could invade people's privacy. The satellite is set to launch next year.
New Satellite That Could Spy, Record Events Like 'Big Brother'
Albedo, a startup space company, is working on a new satellite with aerial-quality imagery from space. Its quality is so impressive that it can reportedly be zoomed in on people and license plates from space. For this reason, experts are concerned that the Earth would have cameras like those installed in "Big Brother" and invade the public's privacy.
"This is a giant camera in the sky for any government to use at any time without our knowledge," said Jennifer Lynch, general counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "We should definitely be worried."
Jonathan C. McDowell, a Harvard astrophysicist, echoed the same sentiment. He said this would bring humanity closer to a "Big-Brother-is-watching kind of world."
Albedo inked two distinct multimillion-dollar deals with the U.S. The National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the Air Force will assist the government in keeping an eye on possible dangers to the security of the United States.
In September 2022, the company raised $48 million, and last month, it raised an additional $35 million to commercialize its Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellite.
Topher Haddad, a co-founder of Albedo, stated that he and his group intend to eventually have a fleet of 24 spacecraft.
Albedo was established in 2020 and began constructing its satellites the following year. In 2018, the Trump administration took measures to loosen civil satellite resolution rules, enabling the company to develop its close-up technology.
President Donald Trump provided an update to the U.S. established new standards for satellite operations and design, as well as Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices.
A satellite that could see less than 30 cm was prohibited from being built under the prior standards of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellite could only detect cars and homes, not specific individuals at that range.
However, Trump's new order permitted satellites to track things in orbit up to 10 centimeters in size, which would enhance the Air Force's object cataloging capabilities.
Most satellites orbit between 160 km (100 miles) to 2,000 km (1,242 miles) from Earth, and they can all now focus on objects with a diameter of around 30 cm (one foot).
Satellites can only see objects like street signs and airplane tail numbers from this distance. Albedo seeks to get even closer.
With telescope mirrors polished to 1/1000 the size of a human hair, the company's satellites will provide images with a diameter of just 10 centimeters, or four inches.
It does not, however, clarify that the satellite would not be equipped with facial recognition software or that it will not be used to photograph people or invade their privacy.
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Firefly Aerospace Alpha Rocket Mishap
In related news, Firefly Aerospace released the result of its investigation over the mishap in December. Its Alpha rocket, carrying Lockheed Martin's Electronically Steerable Antenna payload demonstrator, failed to deliver it to its target orbit.
According to the company, the accident was found to be caused by a mistake in the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) software algorithm, which stopped the system from informing the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters of the required pulse orders before the stage two engine relight.
Firefly is now implementing corrective actions, such as changing procedures to recognize and prevent such issues in the future, to ensure that the GNC software issue is resolved. The business also stated that Alpha will soon be ready to launch again.
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