- Planet Labs Germany has struck a launch deal with Isar Aerospace
- Isar will fly one of Planet’s next-generation Pelican imaging satellites on its Spectrum rocket
- The Pelican will be assembled at a new Berlin facility
Planet Labs Germany has signed a launch agreement with Isar Aerospace that would put a German-built satellite on a German-built rocket for the first time. Planet Labs announced the deal Thursday.
Isar Aerospace will carry one of Planet’s next-generation Pelican imaging satellites on its Spectrum launch vehicle, with additional satellites planned for later flights. The mission could lift off as early as late 2026 from Isar Aerospace’s launch complex at Andøya Space in Norway. The two companies aim to complete the first launch within 12 months of the agreement.
Martin Polak, managing director of Planet Labs Germany, said the pairing of a domestically built satellite and rocket responds to Germany’s ambitious space agenda and supports national priorities in security, resilience and civil applications.
Where Will Planet Build the Pelican Satellite for the Isar Launch?
The Pelican will be assembled at a new Planet manufacturing facility in Berlin, where the company also maintains its European headquarters and mission control. Planet said the plant will double production capacity for its high-resolution Pelican fleet. The expansion is expected to add up to 70 employees to a Berlin team of about 150.
Stella Guillen, chief commercial officer of Isar Aerospace, said the partnership reflects the growing strategic weight of the German and European space ecosystem and its potential to build resilient space capabilities.
How Is Isar Aerospace Scaling Its Spectrum Rocket Production?
Isar Aerospace is ramping up serial production at its factory near Munich, designed to produce up to 40 Spectrum vehicles per year. The company raised $308.3 million in a Series D round in June to expand its launch network, including a planned second launch site in Nova Scotia, Canada. Isar Aerospace said its demand mix has shifted from almost entirely civil to 60 percent defense over the past 12 months.
