Less than 24 hours after launch, BlackSky’s ($BKSY) latest Gen-3 imaging sat had deployed, captured very high-resolution images from orbit, and sent those images home for delivery into a customer’s hands.
That’s fast.
“BlackSky’s third Gen-3 unit has delivered incredible initial image quality at unprecedented speed—less than one day from launch,” Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO, said in a release on Tuesday. “Customers no longer have to wait months typically associated with traditional commissioning timelines.”
The Gen-3 satellite was revealed to be the confidential commercial payload aboard Thursday’s Electron rocket launch, on a mission aptly called “Follow My Speed.” (On the topic of speed, the mission was also Rocket Lab’s second launch within a 48-hour period, as the company is working to accelerate cadence for its suite of rockets.)
Sharp and quick: BlackSky’s new Gen-3 sats are capable of capturing 35-cm imagery, compared to their predecessors, the Gen-2 satellites, which capture one-meter-resolution images.
Both speed and resolution are key attributes for the company’s business with the US defense market. The DoD relies on accurate and timely information to provide awareness to forces across the globe.
“Our purpose-built software and hardware architecture is uniquely suited to provide secure and flexible commercial services that complement national assets, with mission-relevant tactical ISR capability, at disruptive speed, scale and economics,” O’Toole said.
The company is hoping to have a dozen Gen-3 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
+ Market check: Company stock saw an uptick after the launch of the satellite on Thursday. After announcing the delivery of its first images, $BKSY ended the day Tuesday trading at $17.13 per share, up 6.7% since market open.
Correction: This story was updated to correct the resolution of BlackSky’s Gen-3 sats. It’s 35 cm.
