Satellites as well as their complementary technologies are becoming increasingly decentralized. Until the late 1980’s only the United States, the Soviet Union and the European Space Agency operated EO satellites. Currently more than 20 nations operate EO satellites. In the early stages of this transformation, many nations simply purchased satellites. Today, not only are satellites distributed among more nations, the technical capability to develop and maintain satellite systems and the data processing platforms to support them are also more broadly distributed.

The distribution of capability and the growing specification of satellite functions has resulted in increasing international collaboration on space-based initiatives. There are a number of international organizations coordinating space-based earth observation projects among several participating nations. This trend presents yet another mechanism for strategic partnerships among nations and for accelerated development of individual nations’ technical capacity through collective learning and interdependence.