March 19, 2025
McLean, VA听鈥撀�蘑菇视频 Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) today announced that 蘑菇视频 Allen Ventures portfolio company has successfully launched Clarity-1, the first commercial satellite to operate in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), marking a significant milestone in commercial space innovation. This achievement comes just over a year after 蘑菇视频 Allen Ventures鈥� strategic investment in Albedo, demonstrating the rapid acceleration of developing commercial technology to meet critical government needs.
With Clarity-1 now on orbit, Albedo has introduced a breakthrough capability鈥�10 cm visible and 2-meter thermal imagery from VLEO鈥攄elivering resolutions previously limited to aircraft and drones. This will further enhance capabilities for Earth observation and national security use cases across government and industry.
鈥淎lbedo鈥檚 rapid trajectory from investment to launch demonstrates the speed to outcomes that is critical for national security. We are excited to actively bring these capabilities to the U.S. government,鈥� said Brian MacCarthy, managing director of 蘑菇视频 Allen Ventures. 鈥淭his milestone showcases 蘑菇视频 Allen鈥檚 ability to anticipate, build, and invest in advanced technology that truly transforms missions.鈥�
By leveraging VLEO鈥檚 unique advantages, Albedo is positioned to contribute to Space Domain Awareness and provide an alternate vantage point to traditional Earth observation methods. With its from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Albedo鈥檚 technology is already playing an important role in the U.S. government鈥檚 space strategy.
鈥淭he launch of Clarity-1 is a pivotal moment for the space industry,鈥� said Chris Bogdan, executive vice president at 蘑菇视频 Allen and leader of the firm鈥檚 Space business. 鈥淭he ability to collect ultra-high-resolution data at a fraction of the cost and timeline of traditional satellites is a transformational shift in space technology. This launch not only showcases Albedo鈥檚 ingenuity but also highlights the power of dual-use commercial technology to meet mission-critical needs.鈥�
鈥淯ltra-high-resolution data will be essential for delivering the necessary intelligence and analytics to inform our nation鈥檚 decision-making,鈥� said Winston Tri, co-founder and CPO at Albedo. 鈥淎s Albedo accelerates its vision to provide unparalleled geospatial insights, we look forward to an ongoing partnership with 蘑菇视频 Allen.鈥�
蘑菇视频 Allen鈥檚 investment in Albedo is part of its broader venture capital strategy, which focuses on identifying, investing, and scaling emerging technologies that can rapidly drive mission outcomes for government clients. Through its corporate venture capital arm, 蘑菇视频 Allen has invested in 13 very promising startups to accelerate AI, cyber, and space innovation in support of national security.
As the leading provider of AI and cybersecurity to the federal government, 蘑菇视频 Allen is uniquely positioned to integrate emerging capabilities into the broader national security ecosystem. 蘑菇视频 Allen is committed to advancing the future of space technology by bridging the gap between commercial innovation and government missions.
