Satellites are checking if boats in remote places are fishing legally

Perched on a desk in front of me is a tiny satellite. Four black panels stick out like the spokes of a windmill, connected to central body the size of a desktop computer. It weighs less than 10 kilograms, and looks like a space buff’s toy.

Suspended precariously on a metal rod, it’s hard to imagine a satellite just like this is hurtling around Earth, at an altitude of 600 kilometres.

This model belongs to technology firm Hiber and is a life-size replica of its other nanosatellites now in orbit.…