Spaceflight has successfully launched a flock of 12 Planet Dove satellites from India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)—the 12 spacecraft are shoebox-sized satellites that will be delivered into LEO to provide imaging data.
Spaceflight previously arranged for the launch of Planet’s Dove 1 and Dove 2 satellites in April of 2013, as well as its first flock of satellites from the International Space Station in January 2014 with partner NanoRacks. Spaceflight then arranged for the launch of 11 more Dove satellites, known as Flock 1c, from the Dnepr launch vehicle through partner Innovative Solutions in Space.
Spaceflight has negotiated the launch of 81 satellites on behalf of their customers and has contracts to deploy more than 150 satellites through 2018. The company plans to coordinate its largest launch to date—89 spacecraft—to be deployed by Spaceflight’s Sherpa tug from a SpaceX Falcon 9 later this year.
“CubeSats such as the Dove continue to push the boundaries of what commercial small satellite technology looks like today,” said Curt Blake, president of Spaceflight. “Coupling them with our integrated launch services and the PSLV rocket, which continues to be one of the most routine and reliable avenues for us to launch our customers’ satellites, makes it easier and more affordable for organizations like Planet to execute their space missions.”
Mike Safyan, director of launch and regulatory affairs at Planet, stated, “Adding 12 satellites with the latest technologies to our fleet operating in Sun Synchronous Orbit will significantly increase our capacity for imagery collection.”
Dawdle Not… SmallSat Symposium Dates Set For 2017
Within the smallsat community, those who hesitate in preparing and planning their next business moves within such a dynamic environment could well be "left behind."
To assist in acquiring the knowledge and expertise to enter and/or continue the acquisition of technology and product to become a successful smallsat actor, Satnews Publishers is delighted to announce that the SmallSat Symposium workshops will be held on February 6 and the conference will be conducted from February 7 to February 8, 2017, at the Computer History Museum, which is located at 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard in Mountain View, California.
A veritable "Who's Who" of subject-matter experts have already committed to presentations during this impact-filled symposium… the accepted speakers to date include…
- Chad Anderson, Managing Director Space Angels Network
- Jason Andrews, CEO Spaceflight Industries David A. Anhalt, Vice President and General Manager Iridium PRIME
- Chris Baugh, President NSR – Northern Sky Research
- Peter Beck, CEO & CTO Rocket Lab
- Dr. Sami BenAmor, Director of Marketing Thales Alenia Space
- John Booher, Partner Hogan Lovells
- Dr. Sean Casey, Managing Director Silicon Valley Space Center
- Carissa Christensen, Managing Partner The Tauri Group
- Craig Clark, Founder Clyde Space Ltd.
- Mike Collett, Founder and Managing Partner Promus Ventures
- James Crawford, Founder and CEO Orbital Insight
- Randy Culver, CEO AMERGINT Technologies
- Stuart Daughtridge, Senior VP Advanced Technology Kratos
- Dr. Lars Dyrud, CEO OmniEarth
- Dr. Shahin Farshchi, Partner Lux Capital
- Dr. Jenny Gautier, Director of Commercial Programs The Aerospace Corporation
- Dr. Steve Goldberg, CEO & Co-Founder Venrock
- David Hartshorn, Secretary General GVF – Global VSAT Forum
- Susan J. Irwin, President Irwin Communications, Inc.
- John P. Janka, Partner Latham & Watkins LLP
- Adam Keith, Managing Director Euroconsult Canada
- Debra Facktor Lepore, VP and GM of Strategic Operations Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp
- Tony Lin, Counsel, Washington, DC Hogan Lovells
- Dr. Clare Martin, Vice President of Programs Surrey Satellite Technology US
- Clayton Mowry, President Arianespace
- Carlos Niederstrasser, Business Development & Special Initiatives Orbital ATK
- Sunil Nagaraj, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Bessemer Venture Partners
- Dara A. Panahy, Partner Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
- Will Pomerantz, Vice President for Special Projects Virgin Galactic
- Dr. Alex Saltman, Senior Vice President GeoOptics Inc.
- Randy S. Segal, Partner, Co-Lead Satellite Practice Hogan Lovells
- David Strobel, CEO and Program Manager (PM) Space Micro
- Chris Stott, Chairman & CEO (PM) ManSat
- Tom Stroup, President SIA – Satellite Industry Association
- Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, Founder and Executive Chairman Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
- Stig-Are Thrana, U.S. Sales Director and Head of Kongsberg Silicon Valley Office Kongsberg Satellite Services
- Dr. Joe Thurgood, Vice President Corporate Development and Marketing Hera Systems
- Dr. Marco Villa, President & COO Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems
- Tony Wilkey, Senior Vice President AvL Technologies
- Bruce Yost, Project Manager NASA Ames Research Center
- Louis Zacharilla, Director of Development Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI)
Here's some particularly good news for interested parties — the first 100 registrants will qualify for a $200 discount on the standard event admission… take advantage of this offer… don't dawdle… and register now at this direct link.
