Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) announced plans to design a specialized version of its Tanager spacecraft focused on shortwave infrared light detection for enhanced methane monitoring. The company is working with Carbon Mapper and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the project.

The new satellite will capture five times the area coverage of existing Tanager satellites while maintaining 30-meter resolution across a 100-kilometer swath. The spacecraft will use technology from Carbon Mapper's Advanced Emissions Monitoring Imaging Spectrometer airborne system to optimize atmospheric gas detection.

The specialized Tanager is scheduled for launch in 2028 as part of Carbon Mapper's tiered observing system. The satellite will complement the original Tanager-1, which launched in August 2024 and has identified over 11,000 methane plumes from nearly 5,000 sources globally, according to the press release.

Planet plans to build at least three additional original design Tanagers and at least one shortwave infrared Tanager. The company said the satellites will support commercial applications including mineral exploration, fire monitoring, and biodiversity assessment.

"By growing the Tanager constellation, we plan to further demonstrate our ability to build cutting-edge spacecraft quickly and efficiently," said Jeff Guido, Vice President of Space Mission Delivery at Planet.

The original Tanager mission combines Planet's aerospace capabilities with JPL's remote sensing technology and Carbon Mapper's scientific expertise. Planet designs and operates what it describes as the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites.