Aleks Buczkowski

For decades, the Earth Observation industry followed a simple rule: if you wanted better imagery, you launched better satellites. Today, a growing number of companies are asking a different question: how much more value can be extracted from the data already in orbit? One of them is Stellaria, a UAE-based geospatial startup whose new AI model, Meruem, aims to enhance satellite imagery across optical, SAR, and hyperspectral sensors.

In early April, reports emerged that Planet had indefinitely restricted access to satellite imagery of Iran and parts of the broader Middle East conflict zone following a request from the U.S. government. For many outside the space industry, it was just another geopolitical headline. For the Earth observation sector, it was something much bigger.

Maps are usually tools. They help us navigate cities, plan journeys, and understand geography. But sometimes maps can become something else entirely: an art, a canvas for storytelling. British artist Ed Fairburn has built a unique artistic career by transforming maps into portraits. At first glance, his works appear to be ordinary vintage maps. Roads, rivers, and topographic lines form familiar patterns of geography. But step back—and suddenly a human face emerges from the landscape.