The successful launch of our second Gen-3 satellite in June marked another major step forward in advancing space-based intelligence for our defense and intelligence customers worldwide. The “Economy 4.0” series hosted on CBS News documented the build, testing and launch of this satellite.
Gen-3 delivers what today’s operators and analysts need most: unmatched speed, detail and agility. With 35 cm resolution imagery, built-in AI-driven analytics and industry-leading revisit rates, Gen-3 provides the power to detect threats, verify actions and adapt strategies faster than ever before. This groundbreaking system is optimized for high-performance point target collection and designed for dynamic operations in the most demanding environments.
“We have an incredible capability to design, build and efficiently produce satellites and get them to space… the (software) architecture we’ve built around that is an equally impressive accomplishment,” said Nick Merski, BlackSky chief operations officer, who appears in the film.
Along with Merski, other BlackSky technology experts explain the story behind Gen-3. Katie Todd, director of technical program management, Tyman Stephens, senior vice president of space architecture, and Vince Ethier, staff program manager of satellite systems, take viewers along an expert-guided journey from BlackSky’s advanced manufacturing floor to liftoff along the southern coast of New Zealand.
“From the start, we focused on delivering the highest resolution imagery possible and built everything else to support that capability,” said Todd.
Once in orbit, Gen-3 satellites are fully integrated into the BlackSky Spectra® platform, giving customers immediate access to superior resolution, revisit, access and analytics. Spectra’s fully automated command-and-control system processes and delivers imagery in near real time, enabling actionable decision-making without delay.
Capacity and resilience are at the heart of the Gen-3 constellation. Every new satellite adds more capacity, more frequent revisit and more flexibility to meet mission needs, whether it’s monitoring activity in contested areas, responding to emerging crises or supporting humanitarian response.
See the story behind Gen-3’s design, build and mission in action by watching the documentary.
The Gen-3 constellation is on track to be the largest very high-resolution space-based intelligence network in the industry by mid-2026. As we add each new satellite, we deliver on our promise to give you the ability to observe, react and adapt for a strategic advantage.