View source for SkySat

{{short description|Constellation of small Earth observation satellites}}
{{redirect|Terra Bella|the US city|Terra Bella, California}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
'''SkySat''' is a constellation of sub-meter resolution [[Earth observation satellite]]s owned by [[Planet Labs]], providing imagery, high-definition video and analytics services.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ten-things-you-must-know-about-isro-s-record-launch-of-20-satellites/story-YJizWHqqhTYjoIyfcaMPBL.html|title=Ten things you must know about Isro's record launch of 20 satellites|date=2016-06-21|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref><ref name="planet">{{cite web|url=https://www.planet.com/pulse/terra-bella-officially-joins-planet/|title=Terra Bella Officially Joins Planet|work=planet.com|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> Planet acquired the satellites with their purchase of '''Terra Bella''' (formerly '''Skybox Imaging'''), a [[Mountain View, California]]-based company founded in 2009 by Dan Berkenstock, Julian Mann, John Fenwick, and Ching-Yu Hu,<ref name="IEEE Spectrum">{{cite news|last=Perry|first=Tekla S.|title=Start-up Profile: Skybox Imaging |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/startup-profile-skybox-imaging|access-date=12 May 2014|newspaper=IEEE Spectrum|date=1 May 2013}}</ref> from Google in 2017.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2014/08/05/google-closes-skybox-imaging-purchase/|title=Google Closes Skybox Imaging Purchase|date=2014-08-05|access-date=2014-08-10|website=Via Satellite |last=Henry|first=Caleb}}</ref>
==Overview==
[[File:Apple Park satellite view May 2017.jpg|thumb|SkySat image of [[Apple Park]] taken in May 2017.]]
[[File:Monte Fitz Roy 19Mar2018 SkySat.jpg|thumb|SkySat off-[[nadir]] image of [[Fitz Roy]]]]
The resolution of the SkySat satellite imagery and videos is high enough to observe objects that impact the global economy such as terrain, cars and shipping containers. The satellites can capture video clips lasting up to 90 seconds at 30 frames per second.<ref name="Scientific American">{{cite news|last=Wogan|first=David|title=High-definition video from space is available for purchase finally. |url=http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/2013/12/30/high-definition-video-from-space-is-available-for-purchase-finally/|access-date=12 May 2014|newspaper=Scientific American|date=30 December 2013}}</ref> The high-definition satellite video from SkySat satellites "could help us understand our world better by analyzing movement of goods and people, providing visual data about supply chains, shipping, industrial plant activity, and even humanitarian relief efforts".<ref name="Scientific American"/>
The constellation's goal is to be able to provide high-resolution satellite imagery of any place on Earth multiple times a day.<ref name="TechCrunch 4.12">{{cite news|last=Burns|first=Matt|title=Skybox Imaging Raises US$70 million To Launch Two High-Resolution Imaging Microsatellites|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/04/17/skybox-imaging-closes-70m-in-series-c-funding-with-immediate-plans-to-lauch-two-high-res-imaging-microsatellites/|access-date=12 May 2014|newspaper=TechCrunch|date=17 April 2012}}</ref> When Skybox originally developed the satellites, they planned to "change the nature" of the satellite industry by building satellites with "off-the-shelf" electronics that cost under {{US$|50 million}}.<ref name="FastCo 12.13">{{cite news|last=Truong|first=Alice|title=Proof That Cheaper Satellites Still Can Take Incredibly Detailed Photos of Earth|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3023325/fast-feed/proof-that-cheaper-satellites-still-can-take-incredibly-detailed-photos-of-earth?partner|access-date=12 May 2014|newspaper=Fast Company |date=11 December 2013}}</ref>
==History==
By April 2012, Skybox Imaging had raised a total of {{US$|91 million|long=no}} (equivalent to about ${{inflation|US|91|2012}}M in {{inflation/year|US}}) of [[private capital]] from [[Khosla Ventures]], [[Bessemer Venture Partners]], [[Canaan Partners]] and [[Norwest Venture Partners]] to develop the SkySat constellation.<ref name="TechCrunch 4.12"/>
On 21 November 2013, the first satellite, SkySat-1, was launched on a [[Dnepr rocket]] from [[Dombarovsky Air Base|Dombarovsky Air Base, Russia]].<ref name="Spaceflight Now Nov 2013">{{cite web|last=Clark |first=Stephen|title=Silo-launched Dnepr rocket delivers 32 satellites to space|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1311/21dnepr/#.U3FN-V4Sss2|work=Website|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=12 May 2014}}</ref> Less than a month later, on 11 December 2013, the first images captured by the SkySat-1 satellite, of [[Perth]], [[Abu Dhabi]], and the coast of [[Somalia]], were released.<ref name="Fast Company December 2013">{{cite web|last=Truong|first=Alice|title=Proof That Cheaper Satellites Still Can Take Incredibly Detailed Photos Of Earth|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3023325/fast-feed/proof-that-cheaper-satellites-still-can-take-incredibly-detailed-photos-of-earth?partner|work=Website|date=11 December 2013|publisher=Fast Company|access-date=11 December 2013}}</ref> The second satellite, SkySat-2, launched on a [[Soyuz-2]]/Fregat rocket from [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]], [[Kazakhstan]] on 8 July 2014.<ref name="9to5Google July 2014">{{cite web|last=Hearn|first=Mark|title=Skybox Imaging successfully launches its SkySat-2 Earth observation satellite|url=http://9to5google.com/2014/07/08/skybox-imaging-successfully-launches-its-skysat-2-earth-observation-satellite/|work=Website|date=8 July 2014|publisher=[[9to5Google]]|access-date=8 July 2014}}</ref> The company plans to eventually launch a fleet of 24 satellites.<ref name="NYT 8.2013">{{cite news|last=Eisenberg|first=Anne|title=Microsatellites: What Big Eyes They Have |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/business/microsatellites-what-big-eyes-they-have.html?_r=4&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1378221470-gkZ8MehC6vPWWcz9FWCrbg&|access-date=12 May 2014|newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 August 2013}}</ref> and released its first images within 48 hours of launch.<ref name="Satellite Today July 2014">{{cite web|last=Henry|first=Caleb|title=Skybox Imaging Releases First Images from SkySat 2 |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2014/07/11/skybox-imaging-releases-first-images-from-skysat-2/|work=Website|date=11 July 2014|publisher=Satellite Today|access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref>
On 10 February 2014, [[SSL (company)|SSL]] announced that Skybox had awarded it a contract to build 13 more satellites based on a revised "SkySat C" design.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sslmda.com/html/pressreleases/pr20140210.htmlb|title=Skybox Imaging Selects SSL To Build 13 Low Earth Orbit Imaging Satellites|work=sslmda.com|date=10 February 2014|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=satellitetoday>{{cite web|url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2016/04/06/terra-bella-evaluating-launches-for-eight-skysats-by-2017/|title=Terra Bella Evaluating Launches for Eight SkySats by 2017|work=Satellite Today|publisher=Access Intelligence|date=6 April 2016|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref> The first of these, Skysat-3, also referred to as SkySat-C1, was launched on 22 June 2016 by [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO) on [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle]] [[PSLV-C34]].<ref name=skysat3firstlight>{{cite web|url=http://terrabellatech.blogspot.com/2016/06/skysat-3-first-light.html |title=SkySat-3 First Light|work=Terra Bella Blog|publisher=Google, Inc.|date=28 June 2016|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=pslv34>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight101.com/pslv-c34/pslv-c34-launch-success/|title=International Assortment of Satellites lifted by Indian PSLV Rocket|work=Spaceflight101.com|date=22 June 2016|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref>
On 10 June 2014, Skybox Imaging announced that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by [[Google]] for {{US$|500 million|long=no}} (equivalent to about ${{inflation|US|500|2014}}M in {{inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investor.google.com/releases/2014/0609.html |title=Alphabet Investor Relations|work=google.com|date=9 June 2014|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Skybox Imaging Blog">{{cite news|title=Skybox Imaging + Google|access-date=29 June 2016 |url=http://terrabellatech.blogspot.com/2014/06/skybox-imaging-google.html|date=8 June 2014}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on 1 August 2014.<ref name="Skybox Imaging Blog"/><ref name="auto"/> Skybox Imaging changed its name to "Terra Bella" on 8 March 2016, to indicate its focus on image analytics.<ref name="tcterrabella">{{cite news|last1=Lardinois|first1=Frederic|title=Google renames its satellite startup, Skybox Imaging, to Terra Bella and adds focus on image analysis|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/08/google-renames-its-satellite-startup-skybox-imaging-to-terra-bella-and-adds-focus-on-image-analysis/|access-date=8 March 2016|work=TechCrunch|publisher=AOL Inc.|date=8 March 2016}}</ref> The new name was partially based on the Terra Bella Avenue in [[Mountain View, California]], where the company's headquarters are located.<ref name="vbterrabella">{{cite news|last1=Protalinski|first1=Emil|title=Google rebrands Skybox as Terra Bella, will launch "more than a dozen satellites" over the next few years |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/03/08/google-rebrands-skybox-as-terra-bella-will-launch-more-than-a-dozen-satellites-over-the-next-few-years/|access-date=8 March 2016|work=VentureBeat|date=8 March 2016}}</ref> Terra bella is Italian for "beautiful Earth". The name change was also partially due to perceived trademark infringement that came to light in the Google acquisition.
Four more SkySat units were launched on 16 September 2016, by the [[Vega rocket]]'s seventh flight from [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/16/vega-rocket-hauls-up-quintet-of-earth-observation-satellites/|title=Vega rocket hauls up quintet of Earth observation satellites|work=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=16 September 2016}}</ref>
In 2017, Google sold Terra Bella and its SkySat satellite constellation to [[Planet Labs]], adding to their existing fleet of around 50 satellites,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/03/google-selling-terra-bella-satellite-imaging-business-to-planet/|title=Google selling Terra Bella satellite imaging business to Planet|website=TechCrunch|date=3 February 2017 |access-date=2019-12-12}}</ref> for an undisclosed price and entered into a multi-year agreement to purchase SkySat imaging data.<ref name=PlanetLabsReuters>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-terra-bella-sale-idUSKBN15I2Y8|title=Google sells satellite imaging business Terra Bella to Planet Labs|date=3 February 2017|publisher=Reuters|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> Planet Labs launched six more SkySat satellites, along with four [[Dove (satellite)|Dove]] [[CubeSat]]s, on a [[Minotaur-C]] rocket from [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] on 31 October 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/10/orbital-atk-minotaur-c-skysat-mission-vandenberg/|title=Orbital ATK Minotaur-C launches SkySat mission out of Vandenberg|last=Graham|first=William|date=31 October 2017|work=NASASpaceFlight}}</ref><ref name=6skysats/> An additional two SkySat satellites and three Dove CubeSats were launched on a [[Falcon 9]] rocket from Vandenberg on 3 December 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.planet.com/pulse/two-skysat-satellites-three-doves-and-a-record-breaking-launch-on-spaceflights-sso-a/|title=Two SkySat Satellites, Three Doves, and a Record-Breaking Launch on Spaceflight's SSO-A|last=Safyan|first=Mike|date=22 October 2018|work=Planet Labs, Inc}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/42599-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-3rd-launch-success-sso-a.html|title=SpaceX Rocket Makes Historic 3rd Launch Into Space with 64 Satellites On Board |last=Wall|first=Mike|date=3 December 2018|work=Space.com}}</ref>
==Satellite constellation==
The SkySat satellites are based on the [[CubeSat]] concept, using inexpensive automotive grade electronics and fast commercially available processors,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skybox.com/technology#satellite-sensors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317060559/http://www.skybox.com/technology#satellite-sensors|title=High-Performance Satellites|work=Skybox Imaging|archive-date=17 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> but scaled up to approximately the size of a [[refrigerator|minifridge]].<ref name="startup-skybox">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/06/startup-skybox/|title=Inside a Startup's Plan to Turn a Swarm of DIY Satellites Into an All-Seeing Eye|magazine=Wired|access-date=4 November 2017|last1=Samuels|first1=David}}</ref> The satellites are approximately {{convert|80|cm}} long, compared to approximately {{convert|30|cm}} for a 3U CubeSat, and weigh {{convert|220|lb}}.<ref name="startup-skybox"/>
The first three prototype satellites (SkySat-1, 2 and 3) were produced by Skybox Imaging in-house. SkySats 1 & 2 did not have a propulsion system, SkySat 3 had a propulsion system built by ECAPS in Sweden.<ref name="GunterSkySat12"/>
The other 13 satellites are manufactured by [[SSL (company)|SSL]],<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.sslmda.com/html/pressreleases/2017-09-05-High-Resolution-Smallsats-Built-by-SSL-Arrive-at-Vandenberg-AFB-for-Launch.php|title=High Resolution Smallsats Built by SSL Arrive at Vandenberg AFB for Launch|work=sslmda.com|publisher=Space Systems/Loral, LLC|date=5 September 2017|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref> the optical payloads are built by [[L3 Technologies]],<ref>{{cite web|title=REQUEST OF SKYBOX IMAGING, INC. FOR DETERMINATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH SATELLITE IMPLEMENTATION MILESTONES |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/download.do?attachment_key=987872|website=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=1 November 2017|date=4 March 2013}}</ref><ref name=6skysats>{{cite press release |title=Planet Doubles Sub-1 Meter Imaging Capacity With Successful Launch of 6 SkySats|url=https://www.planet.com/pulse/planet-doubles-sub-1-meter-imaging-capacity-with-successful-launch-of-6-skysats/ |website=www.planet.com|publisher=Planet Labs Inc.}}</ref> and the satellite thrusters are provided by [[ECAPS]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|title=Terra Bella's SkySat 3 Green Propulsion System Declared Operational - Via Satellite|url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/publications/st/2016/08/05/terra-bellas-skysat-3-green-propulsion-system-declared-operational/|access-date=1 November 2017|work=Via Satellite|date=5 August 2016}}</ref> The 13 SkySat-C satellites are slightly larger and heavier (with mass about 120&nbsp;kg or 264&nbsp;lbs) than the prototypes. They have a planned operational life of 6 years.<ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
The SkySat-C satellites were put on a {{convert|500|km|adj=on}} [[Sun-synchronous orbit]].<ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
Three of Planet's commercial SkySat (SkySat-16, -17 and -18) Earth-imaging spacecraft launched on top of a stack of 58 SpaceX Starlink-8 satellites on 13 June 2020 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket,<ref name="Starlink8">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=2020-06-13}}</ref> and three more (SkySat-19, -20 and -21) hitched a ride on another SpaceX mission on August 18, 2020. Built by [[Maxar Technologies]], each of the SkySat satellites weighs around {{convert|110|kg}} at launch. The SkySats are about the size of a mini-refrigerator, and their optical instruments produce images of Earth with a resolution of 50&nbsp;cm, according to Planet.<ref>https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/13/starlink-satellite-deployments-continue-with-successful-falcon-9-launch/ - 15 June 2010</ref>
===List of satellites===
There have been 21 satellites launched.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! Name !! Alt name !! [[International Designator|COSPAR ID]] !! Date of launch !! Rocket !! Launch site !! Refs
|-
| '''SkySat-1''' || ||  2013-066C || 21 November 2013 || [[Dnepr (rocket)|Dnepr]] || [[Dombarovsky Air Base]], [[Russia]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat12">{{Cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/skysat-1.htm|title=SkySat 1, 2}}</ref>
|-
| '''SkySat-2''' || ||  2014-037D || 8 July 2014 || [[Soyuz-2|Soyuz-2.1b]] || [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]], [[Kazakhstan]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat12"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-3''' || '''SkySat-C1'''<br/>'''SkySat Gen2-1'''||  2016-040C || 22 June 2016 || [[PSLV]]-XL [[PSLV-C34|C34]] || [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre|SHAR, Sriharikota]], [[India]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321">{{cite web | title=SkySat 3, ..., 21 (SkySat C1, ..., 19) | website=Gunter's Space Page | date=2013-06-06 | url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/skysat-3.htm | access-date=2021-03-16}}</ref>
|-
| '''SkySat-4''' || '''SkySat-C2'''||  2016-058D || 16 September 2016 || [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] || [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]], [[Kourou]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-5''' || '''SkySat-C3'''||  2016-058E || 16 September 2016 || [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] || [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]], [[Kourou]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-6''' || '''SkySat-C4'''||  2016-058B || 16 September 2016 || [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] || [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]], [[Kourou]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-7''' || '''SkySat-C5'''||  2016-058C || 16 September 2016 || [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]] || [[Guiana Space Centre|Centre Spatial Guyanais]], [[Kourou]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-8''' || '''SkySat-C6'''||  2017-068F || 31 October 2017 || [[Minotaur-C|Minotaur-C 3210]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-9''' || '''SkySat-C7'''||  2017-068E || 31 October 2017 || [[Minotaur-C|Minotaur-C 3210]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-10''' || '''SkySat-C8'''||  2017-068D || 31 October 2017 || [[Minotaur-C|Minotaur-C 3210]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-11''' || '''SkySat-C9'''||  2017-068C || 31 October 2017 || [[Minotaur-C|Minotaur-C 3210]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-12''' || '''SkySat-C10'''||  2017-068B || 31 October 2017 || [[Minotaur-C|Minotaur-C 3210]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-13''' || '''SkySat-C11'''||  2017-068A || 31 October 2017 || [[Minotaur-C|Minotaur-C 3210]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-14''' || '''SkySat-C12'''||  2018-099AR || 3 December 2018 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-15''' || '''SkySat-C13'''||  2018-099AW || 3 December 2018 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-16''' || '''SkySat-C14'''||  2020-038BL || 13 June 2020 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]], [[SLC-40]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-17''' || '''SkySat-C15'''||  2020-038BM || 13 June 2020 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]], [[SLC-40]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-18''' || '''SkySat-C16'''||  2020-038BN || 13 June 2020 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]], [[SLC-40]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-19''' || '''SkySat-C17'''|| 2020-057BQ || 18 August 2020 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]], [[SLC-40]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-20''' || '''SkySat-C18'''|| 2020-057BR || 18 August 2020 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]], [[SLC-40]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|-
| '''SkySat-21''' || '''SkySat-C19'''|| 2020-057BS || 18 August 2020 || [[Falcon 9|Falcon 9 Block 5]] || [[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station]], [[SLC-40]] || <ref name="GunterSkySat321"/>
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Images by SkySat satellites|SkySat}}
* [https://www.planet.com/products/hi-res-monitoring/ Official website]
{{portalbar|Spaceflight}}
[[Category:2009 establishments in California]]
[[Category:analytics companies]]
[[Category:companies based in Mountain View, California]]
[[Category:Earth imaging satellites]]
[[Category:Google]]
[[Category:private spaceflight]]
[[Category:satellite constellations]]
[[Category:satellite video]]
[[Category:secondary payloads]]