War in Ukraine highlights the growing strategic importance of private satellite companies – especially in times of conflict

Private companies have launched dozens of imaging satellites – like the two small boxes in the middle of the photo – into orbit in recent years. NASA/Steve Jurvetson, CC BY-NC

Satellites owned by private companies have played an unexpectedly important role in the war in Ukraine. For example, in early August 2022, images from the private satellite company Planet Labs showed that a recent attack on a Russian military base in Crimea caused more damage than Russia had suggested in public reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the losses as evidence of Ukraine’s progress in the war.

Soon after the war began, Ukraine requested data from private satellite companies around the world. By the end of April, Ukraine was getting imagery from U.S. companies mere minutes after the data was collected.