In The News

BlackSky says its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) software system can rapidly detect vehicles, aircraft, vessels and buildings within images gathered by its new Gen-3 satellite.

The company launched its first example of the Gen-3 in February and it is now using its AI software to automatically detect and identify objects, BlackSky said on March 13.

“BlackSky’s AI-enabled analytics enhance operational efficiency and give analysts the ability to quickly and efficiently extract a new level of valuable insights from vast amounts of imagery, detecting patterns, anomalies and changes without requiring extensive manual review,” says Brian O’Toole, BlackSky’s CEO.

BlackSky Technology shared the first images from the company’s first Gen-3 satellite which launched on Feb. 18.

BlackSky shared two very high-resolution images on Tuesday, one collected over the Sydney International Airport and the other over the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia. The company said these images were collected just five days after the launch.

CEO Brian O’Toole said the image quality is “exceeding customer expectations” with minimal calibration. BlackSky expects the image quality to get better as the company moves through the calibration process and the satellite reaches its operational altitude. BlackSky expects to begin providing sample imagery to customers within the next 30 days, ahead of schedule.

BlackSky Technology on Tuesday said that it won a “multimillion dollar” contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to manage and operate one of the company’s Generation-3 Earth imaging satellites for the Tactical GEOINT (TACGEO) program.

The December 2024 contract builds on an award BlackSky announced in September 2020 with DIU that included a preliminary design review of the Gen-3 satellite for the Army TACGEO prototype program. On Feb. 18, Rocket Lab launched the first spacecraft for BlackSky’s planned Gen-3 constellation.

BlackSky launched its first Gen-3 Earth observation satellites aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket yesterday, adding higher-resolution imaging to its data offerings.

The next-gen satellite offers 35-cm resolution imaging capability and will help improve automated detection and identification for the company’s Spectra AI-powered platform. BlackSky says Gen-3’s overall performance will be three times greater than its Gen-2 satellites.

American space technology company BlackSky has announced a new strategic contract with an international customer for its Gen-2 satellite imagery and analytics services. The six-figure deal will provide immediate access to BlackSky’s AI-powered Spectra platform, enabling rapid development of space-based intelligence capabilities.

The agreement includes analyst training in advanced intelligence gathering, with a focus on BlackSky’s automated broad-area search and discovery tools. This initiative will allow the customer to integrate satellite data with other intelligence sources to support national security and strategic operations.

U.S.-based Earth observation company BlackSky has been tapped to supply satellite imagery, analytics services, and a high-resolution optical satellite as part of a broader effort led by European aerospace firm Thales Alenia Space to develop a sovereign remote sensing constellation for India’s Nibe Ltd., a growing player in the country’s aerospace and defense industry.

The deal, announced last week by Thales Alenia Space, marks a significant step in India’s ambitions to develop its first private Earth observation satellite network. Under the agreement, Thales Alenia will produce a high-resolution optical satellite, the first of what is expected to be a larger constellation designed to provide critical intelligence for India’s national security and defense agencies.

BlackSky is set to launch its most sophisticated Earth observation satellite as early as next week as the company looks to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive remote sensing market.
The satellite, part of BlackSky’s new Gen-3 series, will provide high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery, an improvement that aligns with demands from U.S. and international government customers. The company announced on Feb. 10 that the first Gen-3 satellite is scheduled to launch as early as Feb. 18 aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from the company’s New Zealand launch site.

BlackSky Technology Inc. has won a multi-year contract with geospatial intelligence firm EMDYN to provide space-based imagery services to international government clients. The agreement will enable ministries of defence to integrate real-time satellite imagery with intelligence sources, enhancing tactical operations through automated data fusion.

The partnership allows EMDYN’s intelligence platform to incorporate BlackSky’s Gen-2 satellite imagery, providing rapid, high-frequency updates. This integration will support defence analysts in making faster, data-driven decisions by combining satellite data with signals and other intelligence sources.

BlackSky Technology, a real-time, space-based intelligence company, has dispatched its inaugural Gen-3 satellite to launch provider Rocket Lab. The Herndon, Virginia-based company said Thursday the satellite is set to be launched from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, in February.

BlackSky Gen-3 Constellation

The remote sensing company aims to provide its customers with the ability to execute high-priority, last-minute tasks through low-latency intersatellite communications.

BlackSky Technology won a seven-year contract worth over $100 million with an unnamed, strategic international defense partner for real-time, space-based monitoring capabilities, the company announced Jan. 28.

The deal includes current Gen-2 capabilities and allows the defense partner to access Gen-3 satellites, which offer 35 cm high-resolution imagery and sub-hourly revisit rates. The deal includes annual capacity minimums. BlackSky said its subscription-based model allows the customer to adopt these capabilities into daily intelligence operations.