Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about change on Earth, today announced the successful launch of 20 satellites: the first demo mission for Google’s Project Suncatcher; Tanager-2, its latest hyperspectral satellite; and 18 SuperDoves. The spacecraft were launched to orbit aboard the Transporter-18 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Planet has successfully made initial contact with Tanager-2, the Project Suncatcher prototype, and two SuperDoves and begun the commissioning process. Planet expects to make contact with the remaining 16 SuperDoves that will deploy on the D-Orbit ION orbital transfer vehicle on schedule. This marks Planet’s 40th successful launch and a total of 718 satellites built and delivered on orbit.
Developed in partnership with Google, the Project Suncatcher satellite will run the first-ever test of Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in space. The moonshot project is exploring the feasibility of running machine learning (ML) compute systems in-orbit.
Developed in partnership with Carbon Mapper, Tanager-2 features best-in-class hyperspectral VSWIR (Visible, Near-infrared and Short-wave infrared) imaging capabilities. With a cutting-edge, adjustable sensitivity imaging spectroscopy payload onboard, Tanager is designed to capture imagery in 426 contiguous bands with ~5 nm spectral resolution at 30 m spatial resolution. This configuration makes Tanager an ideal sensor for detecting methane emissions and a myriad of hyperspectral applications such as rare-earth element (REE) identification, water quality analysis, and agricultural intelligence. Planet continues to work with Carbon Mapper to scale the fleet, with plans to build and deploy at least three additional Tanager satellites following Tanager-2.
The 18 SuperDoves of Flock 4J will supplement PlanetScope, Planet’s flagship near-daily, global monitoring mission, which provides consistent global coverage across millions of square kilometers for customers in commercial enterprise, civil government, and defense and intelligence sectors.
With more launches ahead, Planet continues to expand its constellations to meet global customer demand across satellite services, data and vertically-integrated geospatial intelligence solutions, and more. To learn more about Planet’s industry-leading capabilities, visit https://www.planet.com/constellation-services/.
About Planet Labs PBC
Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, and make change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest commercial Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to customers comprising the world’s leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies and government agencies, enabling users to simply and effectively derive unique value from satellite imagery. Planet is a public benefit corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange as PL. To learn more visit www.planet.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, or tune in to HBO’s ‘Wild Wild Space’.
Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” about Planet within the meaning of the securities laws, including statements about the expansion of the high resolution capacity of Planet’s fleet, the delivery of such capacity to Planet customers, and the Company’s ability to realize any of the potential benefits from product and satellite launches, either as designed, within the expected time frame, in a cost-effective manner, or at all. Such statements, which are not of historical fact, involve estimates, assumptions, judgments and uncertainties. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements, including risks related to the macroeconomic environment. Such factors are detailed in Planet’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Planet does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events, except as required by applicable law.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930836177/en/
Media gallery
