planet labs

BlackSky, Maxar, Planet win 10-year NRO contracts for satellite imagery
The National Reconnaissance Office announced May 25 it awarded BlackSky, Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs 10-year contracts to provide satellite imagery for U.S. intelligence, defense and federal civil agencies.

Op-ed | The golden age of European Earth observation
Now is a new time for the public and private sectors in Europe to cooperate, support each other’s goals, and grow the economy in the area of Earth observation.

On-orbit operations the next frontier for space, experts say
Operating while in orbit is the next big challenge for the space sector, be it manufacturing, assembly, satellite servicing, or debris removal, experts said.

Planet purchases three launches from Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab, the U.S.-New Zealand company developing the Electron small launch vehicle, announced July 12 that it has won a contract for three launches from remote sensing satellite company Planet.

Op-ed | The space renaissance: creating a 21st century space industry
The space renaissance will require three strong pillars for long-term success: national security, civil space, and commercial space. A strong commercial pillar leads to an integrated aerospace ecosystem and a secure future in space.

Op-ed | The space renaissance and regulatory environment: moving beyond oversight
As the commercial satellite imaging industry grows, it is worth revisiting what principles should guide the approach that government takes to regulate it.

Why Planet Labs Can Shrug Off Launch Failures
“We plan on launching more than we need because you can’t have a failure and say, ‘Oh [shucks]. I need to get another launch,’ because that will take two years,” said Planet Labs Chief Executive Will Marshall.

Looking for the Next Skybox, Venture Capitalists Find a Lot of Bad Business Plans
The recent boom in entrepreneurial space activity is fueling investor interest in the sector, but venture capitalists remain troubled by the number of entrepreneurs they meet who lack sound business plan.

Planet Labs Buying BlackBridge and its RapidEye Constellation
Planet Labs, seeking to accelerate its growth in the Earth observation market, announced July 15 that it is acquiring BlackBridge and its RapidEye constellation of satellites.