Project orbion niantic aechelon iceye blacksky distance – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Sean Hollister
Pokémon Go’s creator is teaming up with satellite companies to make a digital twin of the Earth.

Even before Niantic sold its Pokémon-powered gaming business, it began building a “large geospatial model” for the planet. Now, the Google Earth vets are partnering with defense contractors Aechelon, Iceye, Blacksky and Distance for “Project Orbion.“ It’s early days: attendees tell me they’re figuring out what form(s) it’ll take.

The pillars of Project Orbion.
The pillars of Project Orbion.
Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge
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