Headline : Putins Invasion of Ukraine: Are Airbus Satellite Images Helping Russia Wage War?

Read more from the original article on here at www.spiegel.de.

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More than 7,500 satellites orbit the Earth every single day, and that number is constantly increasing. Most of them are from the U.S., but there are also plenty of European satellites in outer space, like those from Airbus.

The high-definition images that Airbus delivers from an altitude of 630 kilometers and more are particularly valuable for nations at war. They can show front lines, military positions, troop movements and critical infrastructure. Those who gain access to these photos are granted a look deep into enemy territory – even into areas that reconnaissance drones cannot reach. That is why satellite photos can be so valuable when planning precise airstrikes. As such, Ukraine – which has access to such images through its allies – has an advantage over the Russian invaders. Or should, at least.

But the Ukrainian military suspects that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military is helping itself to images from Western satellite operators immediately before launching airstrikes – with some of those photos potentially coming from Airbus-controlled satellites. U.S. authorities have begun investigating that possibility as well. The European defense company has rejected the accusations.

Outer space used to be the domain of nation-state actors. Not anymore. Now, there are plenty of private companies active in the market, creating a kind of services bazaar accessible to all – and more affordable than many might think. Older, blurry images are free on Google Maps. More recent, high-resolution photos can be had for several hundred euros.

Read more from the original article on here at www.spiegel.de.

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