Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) has launched Project Centinela , a new program aiming to equip the world’s leading biodiversity scientists and conservation advocates with an unprecedented array of high-resolution, high-frequency satellite imagery, analytics, and Planetary Variables.

As part of Planet’s mission, over the next three years the program will help support teams working at the forefront of the biodiversity crisis to monitor and safeguard up to 50 of the world’s vulnerable biodiversity hotspots.

Planet owns and operates the largest constellation of Earth imaging satellites in history, capturing the Earth on a near-daily cadence. This high-frequency satellite imagery enables communities and researchers to see Earth’s changing surface, characterize ecosystem health, and track the success of conservation and restoration efforts over time. With access to Planet’s Planetary Variables, such as Forest Carbon, Soil Moisture, and Land Surface Temperature, Project Centinela participants will have a unique suite of tools to derive quantifiable insights that advance conservation of their target sites.

At its onset, Project Centinela has already engaged teams in eight biodiversity-vulnerable locations across the globe including: the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, Vale do Javari in Brazil, Rio Matos Ramsar site in Bolivia, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eastern Chimpanzee Conservation Areas in western Tanzania and Uganda, northern coastal Mozambique, Terai Arc Landscape in Nepal, and Gunung Naning Protection Forest in Borneo, Indonesia.

As a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), Planet’s mission is to accelerate humanity toward a more sustainable, secure, and prosperous world, by illuminating environmental and social change. Project Centinela advances Planet’s mission as part of its contributions to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Institutions from these sites are already accessing these data to better advance their work:

Microsoft AI For Good Research Lab
“Tracking and detecting deforestation is essential for preserving our planet’s biodiversity. We are proud to collaborate with Planet Labs, which stands out for its unique ability to provide daily, high-resolution satellite data that is critical to this mission. Their unparalleled capabilities enable crucial conservation efforts, and together we support the courageous staff at Virunga National Park in their vital work,” said Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist at Microsoft and Director of the Microsoft AI For Good Lab.

Jane Goodall Institute
Planet’s Planetary Variables will provide new insights into chimpanzee habitats and threats, a core area of focus at the Jane Goodall Institute. “Through this partnership, JGI will support implementation of the Uganda National Chimpanzee Conservation Strategy and Tanzania Chimpanzee Conservation Action Plan. Forest carbon, soil moisture, crop biomass and other products will help enable our local communities and government partners to better monitor and manage their land use plans and protected areas, from village land and local authority forest reserves to National Parks, supporting their livelihoods and contributing towards conservation of the most vulnerable biodiversity hotspots,” said Dr. Lilian Pintea, VP Conservation Science, Jane Goodall Institute.

“I am very proud of the JGI partnership with Planet because supporting solution-oriented teams with powerful technology tools is critical to addressing the existential threats to the health of the planet that all life depends upon,” said Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace.

WildMon
“WildMon equips front-line conservationists with a tech ecosystem to measure the impact of their actions on biodiversity, reducing the reliance on external experts. By leveraging Planetary Variables—key environmental and climatic data crucial to biodiversity health—we are excited to contribute to Project Centinela. We will explore how Planet’s data can enhance community-led decision making in Borneo, enabling Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) to strengthen the conservation work they are already leading,” said Chrissy Durkin, President & Chief Development Officer, WildMon.

Osa Conservation
“As a ground-up NGO working in the tropics, it’s challenging to gather the type of actionable data, at both large geographical and fine temporal scale, that we need to guide our conservation actions and to monitor the impacts of our restoration efforts on the landscape. This project will allow us to assess that impact and guide our conservation plans into the future. And that is critical for us and our local partners to showcase how ground-up efforts can have major environmental impact and uplift, translating actions into results for partners, donors, and maybe someday, investors,” said Dr. Andrew Whitworth, Executive Director, Osa Conservation.

“Time is of the essence. Ecosystems around the world are in peril, and we risk losing some of Earth’s most iconic species. We now have the tools to tackle the biodiversity crisis at speed and scale,” said Planet Chief Impact Officer Andrew Zolli. “Leveraging daily satellite data and modern AI, we can monitor critical hotspots and tackle threats before it’s too late. The biggest challenges remain around access to this data, and Project Centinela is leading the way in getting these game-changing tools into the hands of scientists and stewards around the world.”

“In the hands of communities, decision makers, and researchers, Planet’s powerful imagery and tools help us see Earth’s changing surface, characterize ecosystem and biodiversity conditions, and track the success of conservation and restoration efforts over time,” said Amy Rosenthal, Planet’s Senior Global Director for Conservation Initiatives.

AAC Clyde Space has won a 1.025 million euros order for four Starbuck power systems and related services — the company expects to have completed delivery of the order during the second quarter of 2025.

The power systems will be used in a planned constellation. The name of the client cannot be disclosed at this time.

Last month, Q-KON installed a Eutelsat OneWeb LEO system at the Platinum Health Modikwa Clinic, the first time that a LEO satellite service has been used in the healthcare industry in South Africa.

Situated at the Modikwa Mine in Mpumalanga near Burgersfort, Modikwa Clinic is one of 23 healthcare facilities run by Platinum Health – a medical scheme and healthcare provider that specializes in meeting the needs of employees and their families in the platinum and chrome mining sector.

This Twoobii-OneWeb solution was made possible through a partnership between Q-KON, Gijima and Platinum Health, and delivers seamless satellite connectivity that perfectly integrates with Platinum Health’s systems and network infrastructure. The Twoobii-OneWeb solution has been developed on the global Eutelsat OneWeb constellation with additional network integration, quality-of-service profiles and service level delivery requirements in order to meet the needs of South African enterprises. This solution is integrated with Gijima’s core network at Teraco Isando to ensure the minimal latency, and provide visibility to the Gijima managed services team.

Like many such facilities, Modikwa Clinic is located in a remote rural area which can experience challenges when using conventional and terrestrial communications links. This makes mining healthcare facilities a prime candidate for the use of Smart Satellite Services such as Twoobii-OneWeb LEO as part of the ongoing digitization of healthcare provisioning.

In a groundbreaking trial at the Platinum Health Modikwa Clinic, Gijima has successfully transitioned from fixed wireless access to a state-of-the-art Twoobii-OneWeb LEO satellite link. This pilot program, conducted over two weeks without the users’ knowledge, was designed to ensure unbiased results and has demonstrated impressive results that have led to the immediate initiation of a second installation.

The trial replaced the clinic’s previous fixed wireless system with the advanced Twoobii-OneWeb LEO satellite technology. The new satellite link has delivered substantial improvements when measured against the trial success criteria of markedly reduced latency, a reliable and fast connection, and an absence of downtime.

The digital transformation trend in global healthcare – driven by a determination to provide improved patient outcomes – requires always-on connectivity in order for the industry to truly move online. Through digitization, healthcare service providers can be more productive, and treat more patients. With access to centralized patient records, they can accelerate the diagnosis process and ensure that they are delivering personalized patient care as part of the new, patient-centric model.

The Platinum Health management team has, therefore, agreed to continue the service and contract negotiations are under way with Gijima to facilitate access to Twoobii-OneWeb LEO services across the Platinum Health WAN. Having always-on satellite connectivity will further enhance the benefits of Platinum Health membership for mine employees and their families.

“Our Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) model depends on our own health service providers and facilities having constant online access,” said Quantin van Rensburg, CIO for Platinum Health. “This allows all service providers to access centralized patient records and results in streamlined, seamless diagnosis and treatment, and improved patient satisfaction.”

“We are committed to enabling Platinum Health to deliver patient-centric care at all their healthcare facilities,” said Louis Kirstein, Solutions Architect at Gijima. “The Twoobii-OneWeb LEO Smart Satellite Services connectivity will enhance the interface between the scheme, healthcare professionals and patients through providing additional digital touchpoints, and enabling mobile-friendly services,.”

“The Twoobii-OneWeb LEO solution provided with Gijima to Platinum Health provides for a fully managed and tightly integrated WAN link that meets the requirement for a reliable always-on, anywhere broadband option with applications in emergency disaster response, healthcare training, health education and disease management strategies – all of which are especially relevant to South Africa’s mining industry,” said Hendrik Bezuidenhout, Q-KON Account Director.

Impulse Space has gained $150 million via a Series B funding round, led by Founders Fund. The round also included participation from other returning investors, such as Lux Capital and Spring Tide, as well as attracting new investors, such as DCVC. Other participants in the funding round included Airbus Ventures, Alumni Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures, RTX Ventures, Tamarack Global, 137 Ventures, Elysium, First Principles Group, Island Green, Overmatch, and Trousdale Ventures.

The funding, which follows a series of recent milestone moments for the company, will be used to further grow the Impulse team and to support the ongoing production of both the Helios and Mira vehicles. The Series B round brings Impulse’s total funding to date to $225 million.

The Series B funding continues the strong momentum for Impulse. This year alone, the company has been selected by SpaceWERX for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award, two Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) awards, announced a new GEO Rideshare Program, and completed the record-setting LEO Express-1 mission. The team is currently preparing for the upcoming launch of the LEO Express-2 mission, which will see a Mira vehicle support deployment and hosting services for multiple customers.

Operations are based out of Impulse’s 60,000-square-foot headquarters in Redondo Beach, Calif., where the company handles the majority of vehicle design, manufacturing, testing, and assembly under one roof. Impulse also operates facilities at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where additional testing work is underway for the Helios Deneb engine.

Impulse Space’s vehicles, Helios and Mira, stand out in two key ways from other market entrants. Each features predominantly in-house components, from thrusters and valves to star trackers and avionics. This vertically-integrated approach enables the team to advance innovation and improve reliability while staying on time and on budget.

Second, both vehicles offer a high delta-v capability due to their chemical propulsion systems, which also feature non-toxic propellants, simplifying mission operations. Helios, a high-performance kick stage, uses liquid oxygen and liquid methane to transport more than 5 tons of payload from LEO to GEO in less than 24 hours.

Mira, designed for payload hosting, deployment, and movement within orbits, uses a storable nitrous oxide and ethane bipropellant to offer up to 900 m/s of delta-v for a 100 kg payload.

Together, the two vehicles address a critical need in the in-space transportation infrastructure by supporting rapid maneuverability within and between orbits.

With this latest funding, Impulse will continue growing its team of more than 140 employees and working to execute against an upcoming roadmap that includes the first mission for the upgraded Mira design in late 2025 and the inaugural launch of Helios in 2026.

“The satellite market is demanding enhanced maneuverability and rapid on-orbit responsiveness, which requires Impulse Space’s powerful, high delta-v vehicles,” said Scott Nolan, Partner at Founders Fund. “Tom has built a team with deep expertise innovating on mission-critical technologies, positioning the company to reliably deliver while driving the future of in-space transportation.”

“This funding is not only a testament to our team’s achievements over the past year but also a validation of our vision for the in-space transportation industry,” said Tom Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space. “We’re proud to have so many partners who understand and support the importance of our work to accelerate humanity’s future in space by unlocking reliable, affordable, and efficient access to any orbit.”

Anduril Industries has announced a strategic partnership with Apex to enable rapid development and delivery of space systems for the United States and partners.

Anduril will use Apex’s buses for missions where Apex’s off-the-shelf approach and scalable manufacturing enable Anduril to rapidly deliver capability to customers; such as space situational awareness (SSA), proliferated LEO (pLEO) architectures, and missile warning and tracking. Together, Anduril and Apex aim to set a new standard for quality, scale, and capability that can be delivered to customers to responsively meet their needs.

The agreement combines Apex’s capabilities as an innovative spacecraft bus manufacturer with Anduril’s AI-powered payloads and systems integration expertise. As part of this agreement, Anduril will use its capabilities as a mission systems integrator to field operational systems by bringing together technology across the industrial base. Anduril will also contribute its own products from on-orbit edge processing, versatile payloads, ground C2 systems, and other autonomous operations support that is essential to field mission-ready satellite constellations.

As a merchant supplier of satellite buses, Apex will provide its off the shelf spacecraft designed for mass manufacturing. These productized buses offer Anduril the scale, quality, and reliability it needs to advance their missions in space.Satellite buses provide necessary components for any spacecraft, allowing systems to maneuver, communicate, provide power, and more. Apex’s productized satellite buses are unique in their rapid manufacturability, allowing the company to deliver high-quality spacecraft in quantity at a pace necessary to meet critical mission needs.

Earlier this year, Anduril and Apex successfully launched their first joint mission, Aries SN1, with Anduril’s edge-processing payload. Pictured above is a photo taken by SN-1 sensors and processed by Anduril’s edge-payload, all tasked through Anduril’s Lattice platform. From initial concept to flight-ready delivery, this entire project was completed in just 2 months – an unprecedented speed – demonstrating the value of Anduril and Apex’s product-led approach that prioritizes interoperable components and productized off the shelf spacecraft, which can be rapidly integrated and customized for mission needs.

In 2025, Anduril will launch its own self-funded mission, powered by Apex’s Aries bus, featuring upgraded mission data processing and new infrared imaging capabilities, marking the next phase of their collaboration. This next mission will serve as an essential tech maturation demo, and it will be the foundation for Anduril and Apex’s commitment to regularly deploying more mass to orbit.

This partnership follows significant milestones for both companies, including Apex’s $95 million Series B round, Anduril’s $1.5 billion Series F round, and the announcement of Anduril’s Arsenal-1 manufacturing facility.

“We’re proud to partner with Apex to put our software-defined, hardware-enabled capabilities in space,” said Gokul Subramanian, Anduril’s SVP of Space and Engineering. “Apex’s productized, off-the shelf, approach to bus development offers the high quality and reliability Anduril needs for our IRAD mission as well as their ability to manufacture at scale to meet future demand.”

“Apex and Anduril are aligned in our approach to getting decisive capabilities into the hands of the warfighter at the necessary scale and speed,” said Ian Cinnamon, Apex Founder and CEO. “Anduril was founded on the belief that the exquisite, bespoke approach to defense capabilities will not keep pace with threats from China and Russia. Apex takes that same approach in space, providing productized capabilities to help our customers get on orbit as fast as possible. Together, Anduril and Apex can meet the Pentagon’s goal of rapidly proliferating capabilities in space.”

Kall Morris Inc (KMI) and ExoSat in early September announced a strategic partnership to advance space debris removal operations.

This collaboration combines KMI’s Removal As A Service Laelaps spacecraft equipped with its REACCH system and ExoSat’s Debris-Fed Spacecraft (DeFeS). The partnership will enable both companies to offer comprehensive Active Debris Removal solutions, addressing the growing challenge of orbital debris.

The non-exclusive agreement allows for mutual service offerings, technology coordination, and client referrals based on orbital capabilities. Both firms will collaborate on grant opportunities and development efforts, aiming to conduct integrated missions by 2028.

“Engaging ExoSat for future KMI missions expands the opportunities for us both in reaching customers where they are located on Earth, on-orbit, and providing unique in-space logistics solutions. By growing these partnerships, together we can better address the challenges and seize our shared success in space,” said Troy M. Morris, Co-Founder & CEO of Kall Morris Inc (KMI).

Guillaume Ramaré, Co-founder and CEO of ExoSat Aerospace Industries, said, “ExoSat is delighted to partner with KMI in space debris removal. It’s one small step for our companies, but one giant leap for our customers, offering tailored solutions for a sustainable future in space.”

The West of Scotland Space Cluster, the newest addition to the UK’s thriving ecosystem of regional space clusters, recently launched.

The region is a key hub in the Scottish space sector, operating at the forefront of a European revolution in spacecraft systems, payload manufacture, launch (upstream) and data analysis (downstream) activity. Space companies, such as AAC Clyde Space and Spire Global, have led the way, building more satellites in Glasgow than any other city in Europe, with other players such as Craft Prospect and Alba Orbital introducing further innovation in the global small satellites market. 

Aligned with the regional space clusters operating across the UK, the West of Scotland Space Clusters incorporates industry, universities and colleges, as well as economic development and support organisations, aiming to capitalize and expand on existing regional strengths in space technologies. The region’s capability extends from small satellite design, manufacture and mission capability and advanced space data-driven services to leading-edge R&D in fields such as quantum, photonics, communications and AI. It is widely acknowledged that the growth of the West of Scotland Space Cluster companies will be critical in helping Scotland achieve its ambition of securing £4 billion of the global space market by 2030.

Craig Clark MBE, space entrepreneur, the founder of AAC Clyde Space and a Professor of Practice in the University of Strathclyde’s space cluster, said that the new cluster would help drive regional growth, combining pioneering research, industry innovation and manufacturing facilities to provide the foundation for Scotland’s emerging end-to-end capability in the European small satellite value chain.

Mr. Clark said, “With SaxaVord Spaceport now operating as the first fully-licensed vertical launch Spaceport in Europe, the West of Scotland has a pivotal role to play in the delivery of the country’s end-to-end capability and helping to attract international companies to set up operations here as we have recently seen with the South African CubeSat imaging company, Simera Sense. From a standing start in 2005, Scotland now has one of the fastest-growing space sectors in the world, fuelled by global excellence in space-related research and a long history of innovation and entrepreneurship in engineering. The aim of the West of Scotland Space Cluster is to grease the wheels of the continued growth of the sector in the region and help make Scotland a leading global space player.”

John Ward, Senior Director of Research & Development at Spire Global, which designs and builds the world’s largest multipurpose satellite constellation in Glasgow, said that the new cluster would serve as a platform for greater connectivity and collaboration between the region’s key players. Mr. Ward said, “Spire Global has manufactured over 175 satellites right here in Glasgow, where the majority of our R&D efforts take place. This new space cluster will enhance collaboration and connectivity among regional players, accelerating innovation and creating a more integrated supply chain. By fostering this ecosystem, we can unlock new opportunities for growth and cement the West of Scotland as a leading hub in the global space industry.”

Andrew Strain, Chief Technology Officer at AAC Clyde Space, added that the cluster’s new advisory group would be focused on actions that drive growth across a region which stretches all the way to the Prestwick, home to Scotland’s largest aerospace hub. He said, “The West of Scotland has amassed an incredible amount of capability in the space industry over the past two decades, particularly in small satellite design and manufacturing.  This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Scotland’s first satellite UKube-1, built by Clyde Space Ltd, now part of AAC Clyde Space. In the following decade, Scotland has gone from never having launched a satellite to building more than anywhere else in Europe.  Satellites and systems designed and built here account for hundreds of years of accumulated on-orbit heritage – very few places in the world can claim that.  Through the West of Scotland Space Cluster, we have to opportunity to maintain and grow our admirable position in this innovative section of the space industry.”

Antonia Yendell, Head of the Space Ecosystem team at the UK Space Agency, said, “The UK Space Agency strongly supports and is investing in the growth of the Scottish Space Economy. The UK Space Ecosystem is a competitive advantage for the UK Space Sector and Scotland plays a critical role in our thriving and interconnected cluster network, developing our national capabilities and driving economic growth.”