60 years ago today, Sputnik became the first man-made satellite ever placed into orbit. Apart from starting the space race, it also launched the field of Earth observation. We've come a long way since then and the future holds some incredible opportunities for improved sensing: CubeSats, HD video and other truly novel platforms are increasingly accessible. Combined with the power of big-data analysis and machine learning techniques, some of these emerging opportunities have the potential to reshape the field. A perspective article I wrote recently with some international colleagues outlines some of these exciting technologies: https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/21/3879/2017/hess-21-3879-2017.html
