It's probably simply efficiency. You can check an entire pipeline faster from space than from the air, and from the air vs. the ground. Those efficiencies save

It's probably simply efficiency. You can check an entire pipeline faster from space than from the air, and from the air vs. the ground. Those efficiencies save a fair bit of money, and probably also lead to earlier detection. And while they are expensive, we're talking about low single-digit millions of dollars for a satellite which has a lifespan of 5+ years. Relatively inexpensive for the companies who would want to use them.