Planet Labs, a company based in San Francisco, California, is set to establish a facility in Berlin to manufacture high-resolution Pelican satellites. The initiative aims to meet the increasing demand for geospatial data in Europe.
The total capital investment for the project is expected to exceed eight figures and generate up to 70 new jobs, expanding Planet Labs Germany’s current workforce of nearly 150 employees, the company said Thursday.
The new Pelican satellite facility in Berlin will double the manufacturing capacity for the spacecraft. Production will continue at the fully ramped-up production line at Planet’s headquarters in San Francisco.
Will Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Planet Labs, noted that the new satellite production would be a collaboration with the German government and is intended to enhance Berlin’s capabilities in supporting European peace and stability. “Simply put, Europe needs its own eyes, and they need it now,” Marshall stated.
The plan for the new Pelican facility follows recent contracts for geospatial data in Europe, including a German government award in July valued at approximately $280 million. This contract will provide dedicated capacity and direct downlink services for various regions in Europe. Additionally, in June, NATO chose Planet Labs for a million-dollar contract to utilize its PlanetScope Broad Area Monitoring technology, which includes advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning analytics.