Involve Space Takes to the Stratosphere for Earth Intelligence

Monitoring Earth from above has long presented a fundamental compromise. Earth observation satellites orbit at immense speeds far above the surface, rendering persistent monitoring of a single location challenging. Unmanned aerial drones provide detailed local imaging, yet their limited battery capacity limits overall flight duration and coverage range. Founded in Erba, Italy, by Jonathan Polotto and Claudio Piazzai, aerospace startup Involve Space was formed to bridge this operational gap between Earth and space.

The solution relies on autonomous pseudo-satellite balloon platforms operating within the stratosphere. By flying above commercial air traffic and weather systems, these platforms remain in position for extended periods, providing continuous observation over targeted areas for hours, days, or weeks at a time. Using artificial intelligence to navigate stratospheric wind currents and manage positioning, the platforms maintain stability without relying on expensive rocket infrastructure.

Operating closer to Earth than traditional satellites gives these stratospheric platforms a distinct optical advantage. Involve Space delivers spatial resolution as sharp as ten centimetres per pixel, yielding detailed data for both civil and defense applications. The platforms support two main operational domains: Earth observation and defense intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as high-altitude atmospheric research and flight validation missions for suborbital payloads.

To translate raw stratospheric observations into usable intelligence, the company created CLEAR, a proprietary GeoAI software platform. CLEAR processes and analyses geospatial data in near-real time, giving users immediate visibility over infrastructure projects, environmental changes, and emergency disaster response zones. Involve Space also offers flexible mission options including Data-as-a-Service and dedicated suborbital rideshare flights for organizations testing hardware in atmospheric conditions.

Since establishing its initial team and conducting early research in Erba, the startup has gathered significant flight experience. Involve Space has completed more than two hundred flights, logged over fifteen thousand kilometres of stratospheric travel, and elevated more than forty distinct payloads. Supported by three million euros in funding, including backing from the Smart&Start Italia incentive programme and venture capital firm Earlybird-X, the company is now expanding its international footprint.

As Involve Space prepares to feature its stratospheric technology at Web Summit 2026, the company is gearing up for upcoming missions such as StratoRelay SRX. Supported by an experienced aerospace team and board advisors, the Italian firm is building a sustainable, high-resolution alternative for global Earth observation. By occupying the unexploited layer of the upper atmosphere, Involve Space offers a fresh perspective on planetary monitoring.

Find out more at involvespace.eu