https://phys.org/news/2018-07-wildfires-volcanoes-climate-changehow-satellites.html

High altitude images of Earth's surface can illustrate events occurring on a grand scale to the public, like the recent heatwave in the UK. This is not a recent development, however – satellite imaging has a long history that begins with glass plate cameras on hot air balloons in the 19th Century.

Advances in technology meant that by the start of the 20th century, cameras were light enough to attach to pigeons. These photographs provided a rare glimpse of cities and rural landscapes from above, even if they sometimes contained a feathered wing or head in them.