It’s never been easier to launch satellites into space, and things are only getting better for satellite operators. A multitude of launch vehicles and orbits are available to satellite missions ranging from Kickstarter-funded garage efforts to serious commercial endeavours. Today, we’re recapping some of the most important launch trends of the last […]
Today, 12 SuperDove satellites (Flock 4p) were successfully launched and deployed into a 500 kilometer Sun Synchronous Orbit by India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This marks 25 successful launches for Planet and our 407th satellite launch attempt. Shortly thereafter, Planet’s Mission Operations team successfully made contact with all twelve satellites and […]
Pancakes are a big deal at Planet. Ever since the launch of Flock 1 in 2014—Planeteers have taken to the frying pan in preparation for each launch event. Originally, the need for pancakes was serendipitous: Planet’s first constellation launch happened at breakfast time on the west coast. The team had been staying […]
Twelve of Planet’s latest-generation SuperDoves, Flock 4p, are scheduled for launch on November 20, 2019, joining the 26 SuperDove prototypes already in orbit. This Flock will hitch a ride on the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle designed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). As […]
Planet is a strong supporter of women in the space industry. We teamed up with Rocket Lab to create a mission patch honoring the first woman astronaut, Valentina Tereshkova; every year we send amazing women Planeteers to the Grace Hopper conference; and we strive to uphold diversity at all levels of the […]
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 […]
Today, Planet is excited to announce the opening of our new satellite manufacturing and testing factory, located in the heart of San Francisco. As part of the grand opening, held in conjunction with the Global Climate Action Summit, the first batch of Doves manufactured in the new facility will be shipped out […]
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 […]
Planet is excited to announce that four Dove satellites – our Flock 3p’ – are scheduled to fly on ISRO’s PSLV-C40 in early January 2018. The primary payload for this mission is a Cartosat-2 Series satellite; Planet’s four satellites will ride as secondary payloads. This is the third time in the last […]
In February, we launched the 88 satellites of Flock 3p into space—the largest constellation of satellites to ever launch on a single rocket. On launch night, we invited our friends, family, and loved ones to watch a livestream of the record-breaking launch along with us. Take a look inside Planet’s San Francisco […]
