Planet
Op-ed | Two more rules for building a megaconstellation
While the concept of constellation is not new, the challenges connected to operating hundreds of spacecraft at the same time are yet to be fully understood.
ESA evaluates data from Iceye, Planet and Spire Global
The European Space Agency announced plans July 29 to evaluate data from Iceye’s radar satellite constellation, Planet’s electro optical satellites and Spire Global’s weather, maritime- and aviation-tracking satellites to complement its own Earth observation constellation.
Three rules for building a megaconstellation
Six years ago, Planet began launching smallsats for a constellation that today numbers 140, making it the largest commercial satellite system in the world. By the end of this year, Planet may no longer hold that title.
Satellites to the rescue after natural disasters
Since 2000, international space agencies have shared data free of charge through the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. Increasingly, private companies also publicly release disaster-related imagery and data.
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.
NASA awards Planet $6.7 million for climate campaign
NASA awarded Planet a $6.7 million contract to provide Earth imagery for climate research.
India ASAT debris spotted above 2,200 kilometers, will remain a year or more in orbit
At least a dozen fragments from India’s March 27 anti-satellite test reached altitudes above 1,000 kilometers, meaning some debris will stay in orbit much longer than estimated by India, according to research from Analytical Graphics Inc. (AGI).
Planet to acquire software specialist Boundless Spatial
Earth observation company Planet plans to acquire Boundless Spatial Inc., a geospatial software specialist “to accelerate the adoption by government and enterprise customers of commercial geospatial information services,” said Robbie Schingler, Planet co-founder and chief strategy officer.
Planet sets sights on the long game: Building robust subscription business
Planet's employees, customers and investors paint a picture of a company growing steadily while seeking to dramatically expand the market for data captured via satellite.
PSLV launch a boost for smallsat IoT, remote-sensing constellations
A total of 30 small satellites flew as secondary payloads with the Indian Space Research Organisation’s HysIS hyperspectral imaging satellite when it launched Nov. 29 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on the Indian island of Sriharikota at 11:28 p.m. Eastern.
Commercial EO innovation challenges snail-pace government timescales
Leaps in capabilities of commercial constellations of small Earth-observation satellites and the decreasing cost of their services were at the center of a debate about the future of publicly funded Earth-observation missions after Spire CEO Peter Platzer introduced the company’s ambition to become “the Amazon” of space.
ESA preps Earth observation satellite with onboard AI processor
The European Space Agency plans to launch an Earth observation satellite equipped with an artificially intelligent processor that would enable the spacecraft to make decisions regarding what to image and which data to send to the ground.
Earth observation startup Planet trims workforce by “less than ten percent”
Earth observation startup Planet laid off dozens of employees July 13. The move affected less than ten percent of the firm's workforce, a company spokesperson said.
Planet, Airbus start joint satellite-imagery product initiative
Planet and Airbus Defense and Space’s geospatial division have agreed to co-develop imagery products that leverage both companies’ satellites.
