BlackSky Signs Launch Deal With RocketLab For Next Gen Satellites

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) have announced the signing of a launch agreement for BlackSky's next generations satellites.

The 5 launches are anticipated to commence in 2024 from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. 

With these launches, BlackSky looks to bolster capacity and introduce new capabilities into their rapid-revisit, high-resolution satellite constellation. The Gen-3 satellites, a part of BlackSky's next-generation technology, and are engineered to produce imagery with an impressive 35-centimeter resolution. This enhancement, coupled with BlackSky's proprietary AI-driven tasking and analytics platform, known as BlackSky Spectra, equips customers with the ability to swiftly detect critical changes on demand, setting a new standard for operational responsiveness.

“We continue to see strong, growing demand for our high-frequency, low latency offering from our current and next generation constellation especially for defense and intelligence customers who need real-time, on-demand intelligence in support of critical missions...With these launches BlackSky will replenish, replace, and expand on-orbit capacity, introduce Gen-3 capabilities, and further enable BlackSky to meet the demands of the most time-dependent missions. This commitment follows a series of accomplishments with Rocket Lab that have demonstrated agility in deploying capacity where and when our customers need it most.” - Brian E. O’Toole, BlackSky CEO

The combined capabilities of enhanced resolution and spectral diversity are poised to empower BlackSky to offer real-time insights across a broad spectrum of conditions, including challenging weather and low-light scenarios. This unique capability will enhance transparency into crucial defense and economic activities that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Rocket Lab, which has already delivered six successful Electron missions for BlackSky since 2019, is keen to continue the partnership. 

“After four years of launching for BlackSky, we’re delighted to continue our partnership with more dedicated launches on Electron...Building and maintaining a constellation requires precision deployment to unique orbits and a dependable launch schedule. We’re proud to deliver this dependable and tailored capability launch after launch, year after year.” - Peter Beck, Founder and CEO of Rocket Lab

BlackSky recently displayed their current satellite and AI capabilites by capturing a series of images of Taylor Swift's Era Tour stop in Denver

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