Planet
Arianespace launches Vega on return-to-flight mission with 53 smallsats
European launch provider Arianespace conducted a successful return-to-flight mission of Vega, its light-lift rocket, on Sept. 2, completing the vehicle’s first launch in 14 months.
SpaceNet launches new challenge with Planet dataset
Competitors in SpaceNet 7 the Multi-Temporal Urban Development Challenge will have two months starting August 31st to devise change-detection algorithms to track building construction over time.
Falcon 9 reaches new reusability record during Starlink, SkySat launch
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket Aug. 18 on a mission that reused the same first-stage booster for a sixth time, setting a new record for Falcon 9 booster reuse.
Manufacturers worry about smallsats getting too hot, literally
As small satellites become more powerful, manufacturers say they need better ways to manage excess heat generated by their electronics systems.
Analysts: NRO’s commercial imagery purchases could reach $400 million by 2023
A report from Quilty Analytics projects Maxar will retain the bulk of future NRO imagery contracts and emerging competitors Planet and BlackSky will gradually gain market share.
Planet unveils tasking and API for expanding SkySat fleet
Planet unveiled a cloud-based dashboard and API June 9 to allow customers to task the firm’s growing SkySat constellation.
D-Orbit preps for in-orbit transportation business with upcoming Arianespace and SpaceX launches
Bruno Carvalho, D-Orbit’s vice president of business development, said the company hopes to launch one of its InOrbit Now (ION) propulsive cubesat deployers every two to three months after proving out the system and lining up customers.
SpaceX rideshare program putting downward pressure on prices
Planet VP Mike Safyan: “We are seeing launch providers starting to get more creative.”
Planet’s next six satellites will launch on upcoming SpaceX Starlink missions
Six SkySat satellites will be evenly split across two Starlink launches on Falcon 9.
COVID analytics puts geospatial industry in spotlight
Satellite images and other data can be analyzed to forecast potential spreads of the disease and move resources to help combat it.
NASA awards Planet $7 million Earth imagery contract
NASA employees, contractors and teams working on NASA-funded research will have access to Planet Earth observation imagery under a $7 million contract option the San Francisco company announced April 16.
Planet imagery reveals source of Beijing’s ongoing pollution
Air pollution has fallen dramatically in many areas of China as activity slows in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some parts of Beijing, though, have experienced little relief because work continues at nearby power plants and steel mills.
Pandemic fuels demand for satellite imagery
Demand is growing for satellite imagery to gauge the economic impact of the new coronavirus and for remote monitoring of facilities and infrastructure.
NASA to buy more commercial Earth observation data
NASA will seek continued access to Earth observation data gathered by commercial satellite constellations after a pilot program proved the value of those observations.
Planet stepping up marketing to defense and intelligence agencies
Rep. Derek Kilmer said commercial geospatial data should be used to supplement imagery from classified sources.
NRO awards imagery subscription contract to Planet
The National Reconnaissance Office awarded a commercial imagery subscription contract to Planet Labs Federal, a subsidiary of Earth observation company Planet.
