Planet Labs PBC: Strategic-Technological Analysis
Planet Labs PBC, a San Francisco–based satellite imagery firm founded in 2010 by former NASA scientists, has rapidly become a leading provider of daily Earth observation data[1]. Its business model is based on designing, building, and operating a proprietary constellation of small imaging satellites, which it markets globally for commercial and government use[1]. Planet’s offerings include the high-cadence PlanetScope fleet and taskable, sub-meter SkySat sensors. In recent years Planet has won major contracts with European and transatlantic customers, notably a €240 million multi-year agreement with the German government for dedicated satellite capacity and AI analytics[2], and a NATO contract for AI-enhanced broad-area monitoring[3]. These deals underscore growing European interest in integrating Planet’s space-based ISR into national and NATO defense architectures. This report examines Planet Labs from a European strategic-autonomy perspective: assessing how its technologies (advanced EO sensors, on-orbit AI/ML processing, data analytics) support EU/NATO objectives, while also identifying dependencies and capability gaps relative to Europe’s own defense technology base. Key questions include Planet’s role in reducing reliance on non-allied space technologies, its interoperability with European defense systems, and the implications of relying on a US-based supplier for critical surveillance data.