UP42 is using a modular platform, and creators can even run code in the cloud if they don't have their own servers to spare.

The startup's services are currently in beta, but the early pricing reflects the more accessible approach. Customers buy "credits" they can use toward data, infrastructure and processing as they see fit. UP42 has bulk packages starting at €250 (about $280) for 25,000 credits, but would-be customers can ask for custom amounts. You're probably not going to use this yourself. However, it could lead to more satellite and drone imagery in the apps you use, not to mention the democratization of data that tends to be reserved for big businesses and government agencies.