Planet Launches First Tanager-1 (Hyperspectral Satellite) and 36 SuperDoves with SpaceX

Rhea-AI Summary

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) has successfully launched its first hyperspectral satellite, Tanager-1, along with 36 SuperDoves into orbit during SpaceX's Transporter-11 Rideshare mission. The launch took place on August 16, 2024, from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Tanager-1, developed in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Carbon Mapper Coalition, aims to detect and track methane and CO2 super-emitters to support direct mitigation action.

The satellite combines Planet's smallsat bus technology with JPL's advanced imaging spectrometer. Future Tanager imagery will be analyzed for methane and CO2 source detection, while Planet will commercialize the hyperspectral data for various applications. The 36 SuperDoves will contribute to Planet's daily global monitoring mission, providing data for defense, intelligence, civil government, and commercial markets.

Positive

• Successful launch of Tanager-1 hyperspectral satellite and 36 SuperDoves
• Collaboration with NASA's JPL and Carbon Mapper Coalition for advanced environmental monitoring
• Potential for commercialization of hyperspectral data in various sectors
• Expansion of Planet's daily global monitoring capabilities

Negative

• None.

Insights

Environmental Scientist

The successful launch of Tanager-1 marks a significant milestone in environmental monitoring. This hyperspectral satellite, equipped with JPL's advanced imaging spectrometer, will revolutionize our ability to detect and quantify methane and CO2 super-emitters. With methane accounting for 30% of atmospheric warming since 1750, this technology is important for climate change mitigation efforts.

The satellite's capability to provide granular data on emission sources will be invaluable for guiding targeted mitigation actions. This level of detail has been largely unavailable until now, potentially transforming our approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The collaboration between Planet, NASA's JPL and Carbon Mapper demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in addressing urgent environmental challenges.

Tech Analyst

Planet's launch of Tanager-1 alongside 36 SuperDoves showcases the company's technological prowess in the Earth observation sector. The integration of cutting-edge hyperspectral imaging technology into a smallsat platform is a notable achievement, potentially opening new market opportunities for Planet.

The diverse applications of hyperspectral data, including defense and intelligence monitoring, biodiversity assessments and mineral mapping, could significantly expand Planet's commercial offerings. Furthermore, the continuous deployment of SuperDoves reinforces Planet's position in providing daily, global Earth imagery. This consistent data feed is particularly valuable for AI and machine learning applications, potentially driving long-term growth in data analytics services.

Market Research Analyst

The launch of Tanager-1 positions Planet (NYSE:PL) at the forefront of the growing environmental monitoring market. With increasing global focus on climate change and emissions reduction, demand for precise, actionable data is likely to surge. Planet's ability to commercialize this hyperspectral data across various sectors, from environmental monitoring to defense and intelligence, could significantly boost its revenue streams.

Moreover, the company's collaboration with high-profile partners like NASA's JPL and the Carbon Mapper Coalition enhances its credibility and market position. The unique daily global monitoring capability of PlanetScope data, now bolstered by 36 new SuperDoves, further strengthens Planet's competitive advantage in the Earth observation industry.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL), a leading provider of daily Earth data and insights, announced today that its first 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 started its 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).

“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.”

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.

“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.”

In addition to Tanager-1, the Transporter-11 rocket delivered 36 SuperDoves to orbit to contribute to Planet’s flagship daily, global monitoring mission. 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.

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 Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to over 1,000 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 (formerly Twitter) or tune in to HBO's 'Wild Wild Space'.

About Carbon Mapper Inc

Carbon Mapper is a nonprofit based in Pasadena, CA with the mission to drive greenhouse gas emissions reductions by making methane and carbon dioxide data accessible and actionable. Carbon Mapper is focused on filling gaps in the emerging ecosystem of methane and CO2 monitoring systems by delivering data at facility scale that is precise, timely, and accessible to empower science-based decision making and action. The organization leads a public-private partnership including Planet Labs, PBC and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory among others focused on developing and deploying a constellation of satellites capable of detecting, quantifying, and verifying methane emissions worldwide. Data from these satellites will offer the next major step in scaling up the thousands of methane plumes and CO2 plumes already publicly available on the Carbon Mapper data portal. Learn more at carbonmapper.org, view our data at data.carbonmapper.org, and follow us on Twitter @carbonmapper

Forward Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to capture market opportunity and realize any of the potential benefits from current or future product enhancements, new products, or strategic partnerships and customer collaborations, the Company’s ability to successfully design, build, launch and deploy, operate and market new products and satellites 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future events and results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to the Company’s ability to obtain and maintain required licenses and approvals from regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in a timely fashion, or at all; whether the Company will be able to successfully build, launch and deploy or operate its satellites, including new satellites either as designed, in a timely fashion or at all; the Company’s ability to develop and release product and service enhancements to respond to rapid technological change, or to develop new designs and technologies for its satellites, in a timely and cost-effective manner; whether the Company will be able to continue to invest in scaling its sales organization, expanding its software engineering (including its ability to integrate new satellite capabilities) and marketing capabilities; whether the Company will be able to accurately predict and capture market opportunity; whether current customers or prospective customers adopt the Company’s platform or new products; the Company’s ability to realize any of the potential benefits from new products and satellites, as well as strategic partnerships and customer collaborations; and other risk factors and disclosures about the Company and its business included in the Company's periodic reports, proxy statements, and other disclosure materials filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which are available online at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.planet.com. All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240815871800/en/

Planet Press

Claire Bentley Dale

comms@planet.com

Planet Investor Relations

Chris Genualdi, Cleo Palmer-Poroner

ir@planet.com

Source: Planet

FAQ

What satellites did Planet Labs (PL) launch on August 16, 2024?

Planet Labs (PL) launched its first hyperspectral satellite, Tanager-1, along with 36 SuperDoves during SpaceX's Transporter-11 Rideshare mission on August 16, 2024.

What is the primary purpose of Planet's Tanager-1 satellite?

Tanager-1's primary purpose is to detect and track methane and CO2 super-emitters at a granular level to support direct mitigation action for climate change.

How will Planet Labs (PL) utilize the data from Tanager-1?

Planet Labs (PL) will commercialize Tanager-1's hyperspectral data for various applications, including defense and intelligence monitoring, biodiversity assessments, mineral mapping, and water quality assessments.

What is the significance of the 36 SuperDoves launched by Planet Labs (PL)?

The 36 SuperDoves will contribute to Planet Labs' (PL) flagship daily, global monitoring mission, providing data for defense, intelligence, civil government, and commercial markets to take informed action.