Overview
Planet Labs PBC (formerly Planet Labs Inc.) operates the largest fleet of commercial Earth observation satellites in orbit. The company uses small, mass-produced satellites to provide daily, global imagery — enabling monitoring of agriculture, forestry, disaster response, urban development, and climate change at unprecedented temporal resolution.
Satellite Fleet
| Constellation | Count | Resolution | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuperDove (PlanetScope) | ~200+ | 3 m | Daily global imaging (8 spectral bands) |
| SkySat | ~21 | 0.5 m | High-resolution, sub-daily revisit |
| Pelican (Tanager) | Deploying | Hyperspectral | Methane/GHG detection |
Business Model
Planet pioneered the "agile aerospace" approach — building small, inexpensive satellites using commercial off-the-shelf components and iterating rapidly. Each SuperDove satellite weighs just ~5 kg and has a lifespan of 3–5 years, with replacements launched continuously. This allows Planet to update its fleet's technology frequently rather than relying on a few expensive, long-lived platforms.
Impact
Planet's daily global imagery has enabled applications that were previously impossible: near-real-time deforestation alerts, daily crop monitoring across entire countries, maritime vessel detection, and disaster damage assessment within hours of an event. The company serves governments, NGOs, agricultural firms, and intelligence agencies worldwide.