Planet Labs launches 20 satellites including Google TPU space test

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) announced the successful launch of 20 satellites aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The payload included a prototype satellite for Google's Project Suncatcher, the Tanager-2 hyperspectral satellite, and 18 SuperDove satellites. The launch marks Planet's 40th successful launch, bringing its total to 718 satellites built and delivered on orbit.

The Project Suncatcher satellite, developed in partnership with Google, will conduct the first test of Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in space, exploring the feasibility of running machine learning compute systems in orbit.

Tanager-2, developed in partnership with Carbon Mapper, features hyperspectral imaging capabilities across 426 contiguous bands with approximately 5 nm spectral resolution at 30 m spatial resolution. Planet said the satellite is designed for applications including methane emissions detection, rare-earth element identification, water quality analysis, and agricultural intelligence. Planet plans to build and deploy at least three additional Tanager satellites following Tanager-2.

The 18 SuperDoves, designated Flock 4J, are intended to supplement PlanetScope, Planet's global monitoring mission. Planet said it has made initial contact with Tanager-2, the Project Suncatcher prototype, and two SuperDoves, with the remaining 16 SuperDoves expected to deploy via D-Orbit ION orbital transfer vehicle on schedule.

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