Posts By
Mike Safyan

Curious Planeteer working to make the Earth's changes visible, accessible and actionable.

Liftoff! 20 Next-Generation Dove Satellites Launch on ISRO’s PSLV

News

On Sunday evening Pacific Time, 20,000 next-generation Dove satellites were successfully launched into orbit aboard ISRO’s PSLV-C45 rocket. (April Fools’! It was 20 satellites, not 20,000.) We’re happy to report that all 20 satellites have made contact and began the automated commissioning process (thanks, Planet Mission Control team!). All 20 satellites, Flock […]

First Up for 2019: PSLV Launch of 20 Next-Generation Doves

News

Our first launch of 2019 is here! 20 next-generation Dove satellites – Flock 4a – are scheduled to launch on ISRO’s PSLV-C45 rocket on April 1, 2019 IST (March 31 Pacific). All 20 Dove-series satellites will ride as secondary payloads and will be sent to a Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) with a […]

12 Dove Satellites Successfully Launched on Soyuz Rocket

News

An exciting end to another strong year for Planet! Yesterday, 12 next-generation Dove satellites – Flock 3k – were successfully launched on a Soyuz rocket out of Vostochny Cosmodrome and deployed into an approximately 500 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). We’re thrilled to announce that our Mission Control Team has made contact […]

3 Launches, 28 Days – Soyuz up next!

News

On the heels of two successful launches, we’re wrapping up 2018 with another launch of 12 Dove satellites, our Flock 3k, on a Soyuz rocket. The launch is currently scheduled for December 27, 2018 from Vostochny Cosmodrome and the Doves will be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit with a morning crossing time. […]

Flock 3s and 2 SkySats successfully Launch on Falcon 9 SSO-A

News

Two SkySat satellites and three latest-generation Dove satellites (Flock 3s) were successfully launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on December 3rd. Planet was the lead payload on Spaceflight’s SSO-A launch, otherwise known as the the SmallSat Express, which included 64 satellites from 35 different organizations across […]

16 More Doves Successfully Launch on ISRO’s PSLV C-43 Rocket

News

Last night, ISRO’s PSLV C-43 rocket successfully lofted 16 Dove satellites – Flock 3r – into space. The satellites have been successfully deployed and we’ve started the automated commissioning process while the Doves get adjusted to their new home 500 kilometers above Earth’s surface. All 16 Doves were deployed into a Sun Synchronous […]

Sixteen Dove Satellites Scheduled to Fly on ISRO’s PSLV

News

Planet is excited to announce that 16 Dove satellites – Flock 3r – are scheduled to fly on ISRO’s PSLV launch vehicle this fall. Planet’s 16 Doves will ride as secondary payloads. This Flock is being sent to a 500 km altitude Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). SSO’s regular mid-morning crossing times provide […]

Rocket Lab Successfully Carries Dove Pioneer to Orbit

News

On January 21, 2018 at 1:43 AM UTC, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand and successfully deployed Dove Pioneer into an orbit of 300 x 500 km, 83 degree inclination.   Rocket Lab Electron flight ‘Still Testing’ Lift Off. Image: […]

Flock 3p’ Successfully Launches on ISRO’s PSLV C-40 Rocket

News

Four Dove satellites – our Flock 3p’ – have successfully launched on ISRO’s PSLV C-40 rocket. The satellites were deployed into an approximately 500 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) and are currently speeding around the Earth at 7.5 km/second. We are happy to report that our Mission Control team has made contact […]