BlackSky
Satellite imagery startups to challenge Maxar for big government contracts
The NRO is ready to start buying products from new vendors and move beyond the single-supplier arrangement with Maxar Technologies.
NRO shares plans for commercial imagery acquisition
"We expect our investment in commercial in total to increase going forward," said Troy Meink, who leads NRO’s Geospatial Intelligence Directorate. "As you can imagine with the increase in requirements, there's going to be an increase in the cost.
NRO awards study contracts to BlackSky, Maxar and Planet
The National Reconnaissance Office awarded commercial imagery study contracts to BlackSky Global, Maxar Technologies and Planet, Troy Meink, who leads NRO’s Geospatial Intelligence Directorate, announced June 3.
LeoStella looks for more customers as it opens satellite factory
As LeoStella inaugurated the factory that will be used to produce a series of Earth imaging satellites, the joint venture of Thales Alenia Space and Spaceflight Industries continues to look for other customers.
Atlas Space Operations wins first defense customer
With the SpaceX rideshare launch, Atlas Space Operations welcomed its first Defense Department customer into its cloud-based ground station network.
Spaceflight books three Electron rockets
Satellite rideshare company Spaceflight Inc. on June 11 signed on as the anchor customer for three Electron launches from Rocket Lab.
Satellite operators, data analysts agree on need for speed
Geospatial data companies are focusing intently on acquiring satellite imagery quickly and speeding data delivery to customers.
Spaceflight raises $150 million for BlackSky constellation
Spaceflight Industries announced March 13 that it has raised $150 million to fund development of the next phase of its BlackSky Earth imaging constellation, with Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio taking minority stakes.
First BlackSky operational satellite ready for launch
Spaceflight Industries said March 6 that the first operational satellite for its BlackSky Earth imaging constellation is now complete and awaiting launch later this year.
BlackSky taps Thales Alenia to build constellation of 60 fast-revisit EO satellites
BlackSky CEO and founder Jason Andrews announced the partnership Sept. 15 during the closing day of Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week here.
From selling data to selling answers, EO market faces transformation
Earth-observation startups are investing in data analytics and machine learning to transform raw satellite data into marketable insights they say have the potential to be every bit as indispensable to investors and business leaders as the up-to-the-second analytics they get from the likes of a $20,000-a-year Bloomberg terminal subscription.
India’s PSLV launches 8 satellites in a record fifth mission this year
India’s PSLV rocket on Sept. 26 successfully placed the Indian SCATSAT-1 meteorological satellite and seven co-passengers into separate polar low Earth orbits.
Spaceflight Industries raises $18 million to acquire software company
Spaceflight Industries announced June 21 that it has raised $18 million that the company will use to acquire a software company to support its plans for a constellation of Earth imaging satellites.
Established Imagery Providers Face Changing Competitive Landscape
Established providers of optical Earth observation imagery looking over their shoulders at the swarm of new competitors rushing their way can ask their investors to believe growing global demand will be good for everyone, or that they can maintain their revenue base with differentiated products.
BlackSky Global Says it’s Poised To Cover Globe with 60 Smallsats
A start-up company with financial backing from Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital among others will begin launching a constellation of 60 50-kilogram satellites providing one-meter-resolution optical imaging this year.
