BlackSky Ships First Gen-3 Satellite for Expected Launch in February
HERNDON, Va. – BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) ships its first Gen-3 satellite to launch provider Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) today. The satellite is planned for launch in February from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The Gen-3 constellation will offer customers new mission critical insights with the addition of very high-resolution, rapid-revisit 35-centimeter imagery and AI-enabled analytics delivered at industry-leading speed and scale.
“BlackSky has developed Gen-3 to address significant demand from key defense and intelligence customers around the world as evidenced by the significant contracted backlog we have secured for Gen-3 services”
“Gen-3 represents a transformative leap forward for space-based intelligence, combining very high- resolution imagery with high frequency monitoring,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “When combined with BlackSky Spectra®, the Gen-3 constellation is designed to deliver data at sub-hourly, mission-relevant speeds. We look forward to the inaugural launch and introducing the advanced features of our Gen-3 satellites to our customers.”
“BlackSky has developed Gen-3 to address significant demand from key defense and intelligence customers around the world as evidenced by the significant contracted backlog we have secured for Gen-3 services,” said O’Toole. “Once we commission this first satellite, we expect to move forward with a regular cadence of additional launches throughout the year as more Gen-3 satellites come off the production line.”
The evolution of BlackSky’s constellation will continue to optimize for increased capacity and flexibility with the regular addition of Gen-3 satellites. Gen-3 customers will be able to conduct the automated detection, identification and classification of a wide library of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other objects of tactical interest. Low-latency intersatellite communications will give customers the flexibility to conduct high-priority, last-minute tasking, while agile onboard attitude control systems allow for maximum on-orbit operational efficiency. These new capabilities will further enable BlackSky’s space-based intelligence applications for tactical ISR missions and strategic intelligence operations.
About BlackSky
BlackSky is a real-time, space-based intelligence company that delivers on-demand, high frequency imagery, analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of the most critical and strategic locations, economic assets, and events in the world. BlackSky owns and operates one of the industry’s most advanced, purpose-built commercial, real-time intelligence systems that combines the power of the BlackSky Spectra® tasking and analytics software platform and our proprietary low earth orbit satellite constellation.
With BlackSky, customers can see, understand and anticipate changes for a decisive strategic advantage at the tactical edge, and act not just fast, but first. BlackSky is trusted by some of the most demanding U.S. and international government agencies, commercial businesses, and organizations around the world. BlackSky is headquartered in Herndon, VA, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as BKSY. To learn more, visit www.blacksky.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to BlackSky. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document. If any of these risks materialize or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in BlackSky’s disclosure materials filed from time to time with the SEC which are available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or on BlackSky’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.blacksky.com.
