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Planet Labs to Launch Record Flock
Planet Labs has announced confirmed launches for more than 100 nanosatellites over the next 12 months. These launches follow the launch of 28 satellites, called Flock 1, in January.
The new flock, the largest satellite constellation in history, will launch on US and Russian rockets, according to a Planet Labs press release.
This constellation will allow Planet Labs to image the entire earth every 24 hours. “We are imaging the planet to save the planet,” said Will Marshall, cofounder of Planet Labs. “Imaging the Earth at this frequency will help us to measure things from deforestation, to improving agricultural yield, to detecting overfishing. Our mission is to create information people need to help life on the planet.”
“Getting 100 satellites on the launch manifest is a major milestone in the new space industry,” said Steve Jurvetson, Managing Director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson and board member of Planet Labs and SpaceX. “The small form factor requires less space on the rocket, allowing for more flexibility for launch configurations. A constellation of 100 satellites is unprecedented.”
This announcement comes on the heels of a $52 million Series B round of financing for Planet Labs in December led by Yuri Milner. Previous investors in the company include Draper Fisher Jurvetson, O’Reilly Alpha Tech Ventures, Capricorn Investment Group, Founders Fund Angel, Data Collective, First Round Capital, and Innovation Endeavors.
Hat tip to Edward Wright and Citizens in Space
Source: http://moonandback.com/2014/03/18/planet-labs-to-launch-record-flock/
