Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) has revealed that the company’s first announced hyperspectral satellite, Tanager-1, along with 36 SuperDoves (Flock 4BE) were successfully launched into orbit during the Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with SpaceX, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday, August 16, 2024 — the Planet team has successfully made contact with Tanager-1 and has started the commissioning process.

Tanager-1 is made possible by the Carbon Mapper Coalition , a philanthropically-funded effort to develop and deploy satellites designed to detect and track methane and CO2 super-emitters at a level of granularity needed to support direct mitigation action.

Tanager-1 combines Planet’s cutting-edge agile aerospace and smallsat bus technology with the state-of-the-art imaging spectrometer design developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has accounted for around 30 percent of atmospheric warming since 1750. In order to slow and ultimately halt global warming, methane emissions must be slashed this decade along with a sustained program to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Future Tanager imagery will be analyzed by expert scientists at Carbon Mapper for methane and CO2 source detection and quantification, meanwhile Planet will commercialize the hyperspectral data for a variety of use cases including defense and intelligence monitoring, biodiversity assessments, mineral mapping, and water quality assessments.

In addition to Tanager-1, the Transporter-11 rocket delivered 36 SuperDoves to orbit to contribute to Planet’s flagship daily, global monitoring mission (please see www.planet.com/pulse/36-planet-superdoves-successfully-launch-on-spacexs-falcon-9-rocket/). PlanetScope data is used by hundreds of customers in defense and intelligence, civil government, and commercial markets to take informed action, and better contextualize events they’re seeing on the ground now. Planet’s daily scan and deep archive of data across the globe is unique within the industry and provides customers with a continuous and comprehensive view of their areas of interest. Further, the archive acts as a rich training ground for predictive machine-learning and advanced artificial-intelligence models, accelerating users’ ability to draw insights from the terabytes of data collected by Planet each day.

“This is an amazing all California effort! A Planet satellite carrying a JPL payload on a SpaceX rocket, from Vandenberg Air Force Base for a California charity Carbon Mapper to help the State of California! We’re proud to be a part of it,” said Will Marshall, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet. “Delivering innovative space-based solutions to our customers that improve environmental conditions is core to our mission. Placing cutting-edge imaging spectrometer technology in a smallsat bus platform is a remarkable achievement for this Coalition. I’m incredibly proud of our team and everyone who helped bring this satellite to life.”

“The successful launch of Tanager-1 is a testament to the power of collaboration,” said Laurie Leshin, Director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “Our partnership with Planet and Carbon Mapper exemplifies how we can come together to develop innovative solutions that address our most urgent climate challenges. JPL has a long history of developing advanced instruments and the imaging spectrometer onboard Tanager-1, combined with Planet’s expertise, will drive impact for environmental monitoring and mitigation. We’re excited to see the continued success of this coalition and are proud to be part of it.”

“Any serious effort to tackle climate change must include a focus on minimizing high emission point sources, particularly methane ‘super-emitters’ where a small fraction of infrastructure contributes disproportionately to total emissions,” said Riley Duren, Co-Founder and CEO of Carbon Mapper. “There are solutions at hand today that are capable of eliminating unnecessary leaks and wasteful practices but until now most emission sources have remained unobserved at the granular scales necessary to guide mitigation action. We’re incredibly excited to apply Tanager’s unique capabilities to make methane and CO2 emissions visible at high resolution globally—translating data into transparent and actionable information to help decision makers act now. There’s no time to waste.”

Interstellar Communication Holdings Inc. has signed a rideshare agreement with Alba Orbital, a global leader in PocketQube launch services, to launch its first icMercury PocketQube satellite via SpaceX in Q1 2025.

PocketQubes represent a revolutionary advancement in satellite technology, offering a compact and cost-effective solution for space research and exploration. Despite their small size of 5 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm per unit (‘P’), PocketQubes retain impressive capabilities, making them ideal for a wide range of scientific, commercial, and educational applications. By leveraging these compact satellites, organizations can access space more affordably and efficiently than ever before.

The 1.5P PocketQube satellite is scheduled to launch with Alba Orbital aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle in Q1 2025. This announcement marks a significant milestone for Interstellar Communication as it prepares to demonstrate icMercury service from space for the first time. With this mission, icMercury will showcase what users can access through the icMercury App via personal satellite service in the future.

“The Alba Orbital team is excited to welcome icMercury as our new rideshare customer,” said Tom Walkinshaw, Founder and CEO of Alba Orbital. “This collaboration is a great example of how we’re enabling more innovative projects to reach orbit and creating new opportunities for exploration and discovery.”

“In partnership with Alba Orbital, icMercury’s upcoming satellite launch via SpaceX represents a pivotal step toward making space more accessible and eco-friendly,” said Lijie Zhu, Chair of Interstellar Communication Holdings. “As your personal messenger to space, icMercury connects people to the wonders of the cosmos.”

Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) significantly expanded their ground segment capabilities and the company is delivering comprehensive, end-to-end, ground segment services, including satellite operations (SatOps), for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Arctic Weather Satellite mission as part of a consortium with Thales Alenia Space, headed up by OHB Sweden.

As part of their New Space approach, ESA has engaged a consortium of industry leaders, with OHB Sweden responsible for building the satellite and KSAT entrusted with operating the entire ground segment.

KSAT’s role in this mission is essential. The company is operating all aspects of the ground segment, from launch support to first contact all the way through to decommissioning. This includes advanced satellite operations designed to optimize performance and reliability through automated systems, minimizing the need for human intervention. With this capability, KSAT ensures seamless communication and control throughout the entire lifecycle of the Arctic Weather Satellite.

The data collected by this satellite will be critical in improving weather forecasting in the Arctic region and supporting vital climate research. KSAT’s extensive ground station network, including the world’s largest polar station in Svalbard, provides unparalleled access and communication capabilities for LEO satellites, making it an ideal partner for this mission.

“ESA’s New Space approach for this mission is a game-changer, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. By providing the full ground segment, including satellite operations, we are not only supporting the Arctic Weather Satellite but also showcasing the strength and flexibility of commercial partnerships in space,” said Rolf Skatteboe CEO and President of KSAT. “By incorporating satellite operations into our ground segment services, we are now able to provide an unmatched end-to-end solution for satellite missions. This positions KSAT as a total provider in the ground segment, capable of delivering scalable and cost-effective services to our clients. We take care of the ground so that they can focus on their mission. Our involvement in the Arctic Weather Satellite mission is a testament to our advanced capabilities and our ability to meet the demands of complex satellite missions. We are excited to contribute to this mission, which will have a significant impact on weather forecasting and climate research in the future.”

Sateliot has successfully launched four additional satellites as part of the company’s 5G NB-IoT NTN constellation— these satellites, designed to extend the coverage of Mobile Telecom Operators to 100% of the planet, were deployed via the SpaceX Transporter-11 mission.

The launch occurred on Friday, August 16, at 20:18 CET, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A special event in Barcelona brought together the Sateliot family and key stakeholders to witness the launch live, featuring support from ESA, GSMA, the Spanish Government, and more.

Presented by Josep Calatayud, director of the “Control de Misión” YouTube channel , the event featured interviews with shareholders, authorities, and employees. Co-founders Jaume Sanpera (CEO) and Marco Guadalupi (CTO) provided in-depth explanations and forecasts for Sateliot’s future.

Re-watch the entire event at this direct link…

Inspired by Antoni Gaudí‘s iconic dragon, the mission badge for ‘Revolution‘ symbolizes the resilience of Sateliot’s technology and the company’s global ambitions. The four flames represent each newly launched satellite, with the multicolored fragments foreshadowing a constellation of more than 100 satellites by 2028. It also represents the revolution of the 5G NB-IoT NTN standard as Sateliot is presented with the opportunity to transform industries worldwide; regardless of location or infrastructure, connectivity black spots will become a thing of the past.

The technology incorporates enhancements from previous satellites and is the first constellation to implement standard GSMA and 3GPP developments fully on satellites. In addition to providing commercial services, Sateliot aims to use these advancements to continue leading the NTN community in future innovations.. Sateliot’s approach, featuring its patented “Store and Forward” technology, offers unparalleled global connectivity with its new orbital plane.

Additionally, the company is advancing a certification program for commercial terminals to expedite the integration of their service into the market. Looking ahead, Sateliot plans to deploy additional satellites by 2025 and is actively engaged in discussions to secure a Series B funding round of 30 million euros.

Since its founding in 2018, Sateliot has raised 25 million euros and aims to achieve revenues of 1 billion euros by 2030. Sateliot’s technology, which initially will connect more than eight million devices from companies that have already contracted the service, is characterized by its democratic and accessible nature. It is designed to support a wide range of use cases for SMEs, public administrations, and large enterprises in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, logistics, and critical infrastructures.

“This launch propels us into a new phase of development,” said Jaume Sanpera, CEO and co-founder of Sateliot. “Not only will we begin generating revenue, but we will also position Spain as a global leader in IoT connectivity.”

SpaceX is targeting Friday, August 16 for Falcon 9’s launch of the Transporter-11 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 53-minute window opens at 11:20 a.m. PT. If needed, there is a backup opportunity on Saturday, August 17 at the same time.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 10 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.

This will be the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission which previously launched SDA-0A, SARah-2, and nine Starlink missions. Following stage separation, Falcon 9 will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Transporter-11 is SpaceX’s 11th dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. There will be 116 payloads on this flight, including CubeSats, MicroSats, and an orbital transfer vehicle carrying eight of those payloads, five of which will be be deployed at a later time. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 1,000 smallsats for 130+ customers across our entire Rideshare program.

Marlink, managed services provider of business-critical ICT solutions, introduced flexible and bespoke Starlink LEO internet plans within its hybrid network solutions.

The new plans allow customers across maritime, onshore and offshore energy, enterprise and leisure boating industries to benefit from a range of bespoke connectivity plans from 10GB to unlimited data, depending on their needs.

The plans enable customers to create and customize their own SpaceX Starlink allowance packages depending on their specific business requirements, sharing data across remote sites and assets as demand changes.

The plans are offered within Marlink’s hybrid network solutions that combine the high throughput, low latency Starlink LEO service with guaranteed bandwidth VSAT and 4G/5G solutions. Data transfer and application performance can be optimized according to client priorities with networks managed on an end-to-end basis to provide resilient solutions.

Marlink is one of the largest provider of Starlink solutions in maritime, and provides network solutions to one-third of the IMO shipping fleet. As demand for LEO solutions continues to increase across clients on land and at sea, so does the need for flexible plans that meet the diverse demands from large and small customers.

To date, Marlink has recorded 3,200 LEO terminals sold for integration within its hybrid networks or deployed standalone, supporting customers in remote and challenging environments. By providing flexible and bespoke hybrid plans as part of overall network solutions, Marlink can enable managed access to a full range of digital solutions to optimize each customer’s operations.

“Our customers operating in challenging and remote environments require a partner which can create flexible and innovative solutions that bring new possibilities to their operations,” said Erik Ceuppens, CEO, Marlink. “The ability to create customized Starlink solutions that are seamlessly integrated into the Marlink hybrid network, enables customers to benefit from the blend of managed, optimized and secure connectivity.”

HawkEye 360 Inc. has announced the upcoming launch of the company’s Cluster 10 satellites aboard the Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with SpaceX via launch integrator Exolaunch.

The satellites will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to SSO no earlier than August 16th at 2:20 PM EDT. Adding these three satellites will enhance the company’s robust constellation, increasing the total to 32 satellites and significantly augmenting global RF monitoring capabilities.

Cluster 10 will reinforce HawkEye 360’s capacity for frequent revisits to areas of strategic interest globally. Once on orbit, these satellites will enhance HawkEye 360’s collection capabilities, providing more comprehensive coverage and timely data across vital regions. Cluster 10 will continue to advance HawkEye 360’s mission of delivering precise and actionable RF insights, ensuring greater coverage and enhanced monitoring capabilities.

“The launch of Cluster 10 is a pivotal moment as we expand our constellation, introducing our tenth trio of satellites and surpassing thirty in total,” said John Serafini, CEO of HawkEye 360. “Our ongoing advancement in satellite technology, particularly our use of formation flying, continues to enhance our precision in geolocating RF emissions. This capability sets us apart in the industry, enabling us to deliver more frequent and reliable data for critical applications such as maritime domain awareness and terrestrial monitoring, reinforcing our leadership in RF sensing.”

Eutelsat Group and Bayobab, a subsidiary of MTN Group, have engaged in a multi-year agreement for LEO capacity on Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation, with this collaboration aiming to address the connectivity needs for enterprises and cellular backhaul, providing reliable solutions to enhance network performance and customer experience across the African continent.

Bayobab will leverage Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation to deliver fixed connectivity services. By improving coverage in rural areas, these innovative satellite solutions will provide high-quality connectivity and reduced latency. The roll-out roadmap will see implementation completed across the continent by December of 2024, with services already available in four African countries.

The partnership between Eutelsat and Bayobab marks a step forward in bridging the digital divide in Africa. The deployment and integration of LEO satellite technology will provide enhanced connectivity solutions that will empower communities across the continent.

Cyril Dujardin, Co-President of the Eutelsat Group Connectivity Business Unit, said, “We are proud to count Bayobab and the broader MTN Group amongst Africa’s early adopters of the Eutelsat/OneWeb LEO constellation. This partnership underscores the commitment of both Eutelsat and Bayobab to drive digital inclusion, and the pertinence of innovative satellite solutions to achieve this aim, notably the unique properties of ubiquitous, low latency LEO capacity.”

Frédéric Schepens, Bayobab’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “ At Bayobab, we’re passionate about being at the forefront of harnessing technology to empower people and businesses across Africa. Our partnership with Eutelsat and the integration of OneWeb’s LEO satellite services into our solutions is a testament to this commitment. This collaboration brings cutting-edge digital connectivity to even the most remote corners of the continent and reaffirms our promise of ‘Connecting Africa’ – a promise rooted in partnership and driven by a vision of a digitally inclusive future.”