Planet Labs PBC reports news on its Earth-imaging satellite business, including global daily imagery, geospatial data products, and software-based insights for commercial and government customers. Recurring updates cover financial results, enterprise and government contracts, satellite services, and the use of PlanetScope imagery, high-resolution tasking, and professional services in monitoring workflows.
Company developments also include Pelican satellite launches, Tanager spacecraft initiatives, onboard AI and edge-computing capabilities, and capital-structure actions such as the completed redemption and delisting of public warrants while Class A common stock continues to trade under PL.
Planet Labs PBC (PL) successfully launched 20 satellites, including a Google Project Suncatcher prototype, Tanager-2 and 18 SuperDoves. The spacecraft traveled aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Initial contact was established with Tanager-2, the Suncatcher prototype and two SuperDoves, and commissioning has begun. Planet expects contact with the remaining 16 SuperDoves after their scheduled deployment from the D-Orbit ION orbital transfer vehicle.
The SuperDoves will supplement PlanetScope’s near-daily global monitoring mission. Planet also plans to build and deploy at least three additional Tanager satellites following Tanager-2 through its work with Carbon Mapper.
Planet Labs (PL) said Pelican-12 arrived at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of a planned SpaceX Bandwagon-5 launch.
The second-generation satellite follows Pelican-11, which launched in July, and has updates to its payload and communication systems. Gen 2 Pelicans are designed to provide up to 30 cm class imagery, compared with 50 cm class imagery for Gen 1. Pelican-12 carries a steerable antenna for intersatellite communications and an NVIDIA Jetson module for onboard computing.
Pelican-12 would be Planet’s fifth Pelican to launch in 2026. Manufacturing at Planet’s expanded Berlin facility is set to begin this year, and the company plans additional Pelican launches in 2027.
Planet Labs (PL) announced on September 25, 2026, that its Pelican-12 satellite had arrived at its launch site in Florida. The second-generation satellite is at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of the upcoming SpaceX Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. It follows Pelican-11, which launched in July, and includes updates to its payload and communications systems.
Pelican-12 is designed to capture imagery at up to 30 cm resolution, compared with the 50 cm class imagery targeted by first-generation Pelicans. Planet plans to use it to test technologies for future spacecraft, including onboard data relay and computing. Manufacturing at Planet’s expanded Berlin facility is set to begin in 2026, and the company plans additional Pelican launches in 2027.
Planet (PL) launched Amazon.ia on September 23, 2026, a multi-partner initiative to develop biodiversity monitoring tools for the Amazon.
The initiative aims to combine Planet’s satellite imagery with information collected on the ground and use AI to track changes in biodiversity and ecosystem health. More than two dozen partners are developing data infrastructure, testing models and working with local communities and decision-makers. The Bezos Earth Fund granted more than $14 million across the Andes Amazon Fund and World Resources Institute to support work on the initiative.
Planet Labs (PL) has opened a new 5,700-square-meter satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin’s Mitte district to expand European satellite production capacity.
The plant is scheduled to begin producing 300 kg, 30-cm resolution Pelican satellites this autumn, with the first unit targeted for completion before year-end and a scalable capacity of up to 60 satellites per year. Planet plans to add 70 employees to its nearly 150-person Berlin team and consolidate satellite build, test, and shipment in one location. The facility will also host corporate functions and mission operations, reinforcing Berlin as Planet’s European headquarters and supporting Europe’s drive for sovereign Earth observation and space-based intelligence capabilities.
Planet Labs PBC (PL), through Planet Labs Germany, has been awarded a Satellite Services tender by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, providing Germany with exclusive access to dedicated very high-resolution satellite tasking and a European-hosted Earth observation data platform.
The Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) will coordinate and distribute tasked imagery, nationwide Planet Mosaics and advanced geospatial analytics to German civil authorities, extending a partnership that already supports more than 400 federal institutions. Planet will deliver a cloud-native SaaS and platform solution on European cloud infrastructure. The tender has a maximum possible value of €25 million over 5 years and does not change the company’s previously issued financial guidance. Planet will also move its European headquarters in Berlin to a new space campus later this fall, increasing satellite manufacturing capacity and high-skilled jobs.
Planet Labs (PL) reported record second quarter fiscal 2027 revenue of $116.1 million, up 58% year-over-year, and delivered adjusted EBITDA profit of $13.9 million, while GAAP net loss narrowed to $9.4 million. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments reached $865.4 million, up 219% year-over-year.
Non-GAAP gross margin was 59% versus 61% a year earlier. Recurring ACV was 98%. Remaining performance obligations totaled $753.1 million and backlog was $814.9 million. Year-to-date adjusted free cash flow was $28.8 million. Planet also raised about $120 million via its at-the-market equity program.
Recent business wins include an $8 million NGA award, a German government satellite services tender with maximum possible value of €25 million over five years, a national imagery program with Rwanda, renewals with New Mexico and a hyperscaler AI developer, and multiple AI and data partnerships. Operationally, Planet launched the Pelican-11 demo satellite, shipped Tanager-2 and 18 SuperDoves for an upcoming SpaceX launch, expanded manufacturing in Berlin, opened a London AI hub, and advanced its agentic AI application to open beta.
Planet (PL) announced a 7-figure, 1-year agreement with a European defense and intelligence customer. The contract provides access to Planet Mosaics and dedicated Professional Services support to deliver timely, actionable intelligence for operational planning across critical areas of interest.
The company highlights that defense and intelligence organizations globally use its high-frequency, scalable satellite solutions to address fast-evolving security environments. This new agreement follows prior engagements with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Swedish Armed Forces, and the Defense Innovation Unit, and adds to Planet’s growing presence in the global defense sector.
Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) reported that its Tanager-2 hyperspectral satellite and 18 SuperDove satellites from Flock 4J have arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for launch on the upcoming SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare mission.
According to Planet, Tanager-2 is designed to double the company’s hyperspectral capacity and halve revisit times for detecting methane super-emitters and other targets as part of its project with Carbon Mapper. The mission will augment Planet’s PlanetScope daily global monitoring, support expanding hyperspectral data offerings, and enable potential applications in climate, environmental, agricultural and infrastructure monitoring.
Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Scott Reese as a director, effective immediately. He will serve as a Class I director with a term expiring in 2027, and will join the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and its Audit and Finance Committee.
According to Keysight, Reese most recently served as President and CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification Software business, overseeing a $1.2 billion industrial software operation and contributing to GE Vernova’s IPO. He previously held senior roles at Autodesk and currently serves on the boards of Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), Landis+Gyr, and AutoLOTO.