Albedo Space is an American satellite imaging company specializing in Earth observation technology using Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites. They are unique in their ability to capture visible and thermal imagery at a high resolution of 10 centimeters, which is the highest resolution commercially available. Albedo partners with organizations like European Space Imaging (EUSI) and SkyFi to provide imagery-as-a-service to various industries, and they have secured contracts with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and other government entities. Key products and services include high-resolution satellite imagery and analysis-ready data, and the company launched its first satellite, Clarity-1, in March 2025 aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission.
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Albedo unveiled Vicinity, a VLEO-capable satellite bus, to support the company’s second orbital mission in 2027.
Albedo plans to self-fund the first flight of Vicinity.
Vicinity is intended to build on Albedo’s first mission, Clarity-1, which launched in March 2025.
Albedo dropped its commercial imagery business in October.
Albedo expects Vicinity demand from defense and commercial customers after the first flight.
Booz Allen Ventures has previously invested in Albedo, Quindar, and Starfish Space.
The Artemis II crew observed color and albedo changes in material at Ohm crater’s ejecta rays.
Artemis 2 has ten lunar science themes, including studies of color and albedo variations, lunar impact flashes, lunar geology, and Earth observations from space.
Adding thermal infrared data will refine albedo and size estimates and improve taxonomic classification for near Earth asteroids.
Albedo aims for a four-year mission life for its VLEO hardware by minimizing atomic oxygen damage.
The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) awarded Albedo up to $12 million to share VLEO on-orbit data.
Albedo's Clarity-1 satellite is designed to orbit below 300 kilometers from Earth.
Albedo Space will abandon its commercial imaging business to focus entirely on building VLEO satellite buses for other payload operators.
Albedo is the only company with a flight-proven VLEO bus ready for market.
Albedo Space, a Colorado startup, operates the Clarity-1 imaging satellite in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).
Clarity-1 is performing 12% better than expected, contrary to Albedo's initial expectation of a five-year lifespan for its satellites.
Albedo plans to narrow its focus to develop and produce VLEO capable satellite platforms.
Albedo aims to create more value by offering platforms for other payload operators in imagery, communications, or defense to fly their payloads in VLEO.
Most of Albedo's engineering team will remain in place despite the layoffs.
Albedo intends to expand its capabilities in VLEO by flying Clarity-1 and future satellites at lower altitudes.