The payload of a Near Space Labs balloon parachuting back to the groundNear Space LabsAutonomous balloons high in Earths atmosphere are taking incredibly detailed photos of neighbourhoods and individual homes in 28 US states, and from January 2025, they will be able to photograph the ground anywhere in the continental US. Such high-resolution aerial images can help those responding to climate-related natural disasters but they also raise privacy concerns.This is the first time ever that nationwide aerial imaging at this resolution 7 centimetres is accessible, says Rema Matevosyan, CEO and co-founder of the company behind