Doug Liddle

Space technologist and business entrepreneur. CEO In-Space Missions. Views my own.

[Aravind 🌍 🛰 @aravindEO]

Planet has imposed a 14-day delay on satellite imagery across the Middle East. The company is US-headquartered and subject to US national security restrictions.

The world has come to rely on commercial satellite imagery for independent journalism, conflict monitoring and humanitarian access. But that infrastructure is concentrated in a few companies, mostly American.

When those companies restrict access - whether voluntarily or under pressure - there is no fallback. No international mechanism. No agreed principles. Just individual companies, under individual national jurisdictions, making unilateral decisions about who gets to see what globally.

I am not saying Planet made the wrong call. These are hard decisions with real consequences for personnel on the ground. But right or wrong, the point is that there is literally no framework for making these calls, and no alternative how/when they are made.

We have the International Atomic Energy Agency for nuclear energy and the World Meteorological Organization for weather. We have no governing body for Earth observation - arguably the most powerful diagnostic tool we have for understanding what is happening on the planet.

A few months ago, I wrote an essay arguing for a Global Earth Observation Accord - a political framework for EO governance. This week is why.

94 countries are now pursuing sovereign EO programs. If there was ever a time to have this conversation, it is now.

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@spacegovuk Mike was a lovely chap who I was always delighted to cross paths with. So sorry to hear this news.

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

At the awesome #ewTechAwards with the amazing BAE Systems crew reaching not just for the stars but smashing it into the next galaxy

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

Happening this year in Alton! @DamianHinds

[BAE Systems @BAESystemsplc]

Lift-off! The UK’s first-ever degree apprenticeship in Space Systems Engineering has launched 🪐

Applications are now open for the first intake of space degree apprentices 🔗 https://t.co/e763XJs06h

[BAE Systems @BAESystemsplc]

Lift-off! The UK’s first-ever degree apprenticeship in Space Systems Engineering has launched 🪐

Applications are now open for the first intake of space degree apprentices 🔗 https://t.co/e763XJs06h

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@RadoxUK Sad times. No hook. Off to try out some other brands.

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@BBCAmos @SpaceCornwall @spacegovuk @VirginOrbit See you in Cornwall!

[Chris Lee FRAS now on #BlueSky @cpl43uk]

Seen a few “people who died in 2022” reviews today. No scientists. Yup. No James Lovelock, Colin Blakemore, Frank Drake for example. Mainly celebrities, politicians, musicians or sport. How can we raise the profile of science if our heroes go unnoticed 🤔🤦🏻‍♂️@GeorgeFreemanMP #astro

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@LibbyJackson__ Congratulations Libby. Well deserved.

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@GeorgeFreemanMP Thanks for trying @GeorgeFreemanMP. A depressing but not unsurprising response considering some of the characters. My small part of the space sector is as committed as you are to growing and delivering change for the good of the planet. I hope you continue to lobby for all of us!

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@drdalemellor They grow up so quickly these days…

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

Feeling like a grown-up company now we’ve got a reception desk, glass doors and a big meeting table!

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@cpl43uk Yep. Know that feeling…

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@MikeOCallagha10 Thanks Mike! I’ll now have to run around with coasters and a dustbuster to stop people messing it up.

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@paul_bate @spacegovuk Nice touch with the chalk board. I had the world’s smallest whiteboard where my wife @DrKODonnell would leave insulting messages to make me laugh and/or motivate me!

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@LindaCheungUK @holt_tony @Base_Bordon @Heads_InSpace @KathySlackEM3 @DunfordR @enterprisem3 @JakubRakoczyOIS @paultoben @OI_HighGrowth Thanks @LindaCheungUK We’ve had a crazy last few years. Thanks to you, @Base_Bordon and the gang that helped us along the way. Proof that innovation and growth doesn’t have to be a lonely journey.

[In-Space Missions @Heads_InSpace]

Really excited to be part of the team on this!
Happy World Space Week from @Heads_InSpace

#BluePeter

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

Really excited to be working on this

[Mike O'Callaghan @MikeOCallagha10]

Excited to be working with @UKSpaceCmd to deliver this exciting R&D mission, developing space-ground optical comms with @Heads_InSpace

@dstlmod @HarvSmyth @Godderstwit

https://t.co/rrbXtuquT5

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@professor_dave @VisitArran @VisitScotland There’s a reason we come to Arran every year…

[Doug Liddle @TheBordonRocket]

@professor_dave @CalMacFerries Yep. We booked months in advance! Much nicer day for a crossing today though.