From Snapshots to Systems: Why 3D Earth Awareness Is Becoming Critical Infrastructure | The Pair Program Ep97

From Snapshots to Systems: Why 3D Earth Awareness Is Becoming Critical Infrastructure | The Pair Program Ep97

In this episode of The Pair Program, we’re joined by Andrew Peterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Array Labs, and David Gauthier, Chief Strategy Officer at GXO, for a conversation on the future of Earth observation and what happens when the world can be mapped in near real time. From distributed radar satellite networks to AI-powered geospatial intelligence, they explore how 3D awareness is changing the way governments, businesses, and operators understand the physical world. They also discuss the shift from legacy space systems to resilient satellite architectures and why persistent, high-resolution data could become critical infrastructure in the years ahead.

Key topics include:

• Why 3D Earth observation is the next evolution of geospatial intelligence
• How satellite swarms can outperform traditional space systems
• The growing role of commercial space technology in national security
• What becomes possible when real-time physical world data is always available

About Andrew Peterson: Andrew is the Co-founder and CEO of Array Labs, where he is building a new approach to satellite-based Earth observation using distributed radar systems. His background spans radio-frequency sensing, laser defense systems, and the Vera Rubin Astronomical Observatory. He is focused on applying information from large-scale sensing programs to help us better understand the planet.

About David Gauthier: David is currently a consultant at GXO, Inc., integrating new commercial space capabilities with U.S. national security missions. He has nearly 30 years of experience leading operations and strategy across the Intelligence Community, including serving as Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Commercial Operations at NGA. He is also a Fellow at the National Security Institute and a Senior Associate at CSIS.

This episode is supported by Defense Unicorns

Defense Unicorns builds platform technologies that help deliver mission-critical capabilities faster and more reliably. Their open architecture approach enables secure, scalable systems without vendor lock, creating flexibility across the software ecosystem. Backed by a team of engineers, innovators, and veterans, they bring deep experience across defense and federal tech.

Get in touch at hello@defenseunicorns.com

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