Planet Releases First Light from Pelican-12

Planet has brought 25 satellites to orbit this year across four successful launches, with further Pelican missions planned for 2027.

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SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about change on Earth, today released its first light image from Pelican-12, an updated second generation (Gen 2) high-resolution Pelican™ satellite, captured over Luanda, the capital city of Angola. The image was taken on October 30, 2026, from an altitude of approximately 589 km, following Pelican-12’s launch aboard SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. As the spacecraft completes its instrument calibration process and approaches its final operational orbit, image quality is expected to further improve.

Luanda, Angola • October 30, 2026 • Altitude: 589 km • Pelican-12

Pelican-12 is Planet’s 25th satellite brought to orbit this year across four successful launches, showcasing the speed, innovation, and consistency of Planet’s agile aerospace approach. Planet’s rapid and robust production capabilities, bolstered by the recent opening of its new Berlin manufacturing facility, make it the clear choice for customers seeking sovereign satellite and dedicated access capacity. This reduced time-to-value made Planet the clear choice for the governments of Japan, Sweden, and Germany to entrust with building their proprietary satellite capabilities.

Pelican-12 is Planet’s first 30 cm class capable satellite, and carries the NVIDIA Jetson platform for onboard edge compute. The spacecraft will initially deliver 50 cm class imagery, and is designed to capture 30 cm class imagery after being lowered to its operational altitude.

Pelican-12 is also designed to assess new technologies ahead of their implementation on future Planet spacecraft. Pelican-12 carries a technology demonstration of a new communications package that is designed to enable reduced latency of data delivery.

“This crisp first image tells us that Pelican-12 is healthy and performing well after launch,” said James Mason, Chief Space Officer at Planet. “Each new Pelican we launch gives us lessons for the next build. For example, the updated payload and communication systems on Pelican-12 are informed by Pelican-11, our engineering pathfinder launched in July. With additional Pelican launches planned for 2027, we’re continuing to build out this advanced, AI-enabled constellation to keep pace with rising demand for high-resolution data.”

With the official opening of Planet’s Berlin manufacturing facility in September, and further Pelican missions scheduled for 2027, Planet is continuing to grow its high-resolution capacity and Satellite Services offerings to meet customer demand. To learn more about Planet's Pelican constellations and capabilities, visit https://www.planet.com/constellations/pelican/.

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/20261104953655/en/

Planet Press
Emily Lewis Benz
press@planet.com

Planet Investor Relations
Cleo Palmer-Poroner
ir@planet.com

Source: Planet

Key Terms

instrument calibration technical

The process of comparing and adjusting a measurement device against a known reference standard to ensure its readings are accurate and traceable. Calibration involves using certified reference materials or instruments, recording the difference (error) between the device and the standard, and documenting the result so regulators or auditors can verify that the instrument meets required performance limits; it does not guarantee an instrument will remain accurate indefinitely, so schedules and records are used to manage when recalibration or maintenance is needed.

edge compute technical

Edge compute means processing data on devices or local servers close to where the data is created instead of sending it to a distant central data center. For investors, it matters because it can reduce delays, lower ongoing network costs, and enable new products or services (like real-time sensors or video analytics) that can boost revenue or cut expenses; think of it as putting a small, fast workshop next to a factory rather than shipping parts back and forth to a distant warehouse.