WASHINGTON – San Francisco-based satellite imaging company Planet has appointed retired U.S. Space Force General John “Jay” Raymond to its board of directors, as the company looks to expand its footprint in the defense and intelligence markets.
Raymond, who served as the first chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force and is currently a senior managing director at private equity firm Cerberus, brings extensive military space expertise to Planet as it competes with Maxar Intelligence and BlackSky for government contracts. As it competes with established players. ,
Planet operates one of the world’s largest commercial satellite constellations, with more than 200 Earth observation satellites providing daily global coverage. The company combines this imaging capability with artificial intelligence-powered analytics to provide insights to customers.
“Timely, high-resolution satellite imagery is now more important than ever to help tackle the world’s most pressing issues, from natural disasters to geopolitical conflict,” Raymond said in a statement on Jan. 16.
keeping an eye on defense market
The appointment comes as Planet looks to be more aggressive in the defense market. During a December earnings call, CEO Will Marshall disclosed a new seven-figure Defense Department pilot program contract in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, marking the company’s third such pilot. These programs allow government users to test Planet’s imagery and analytics capabilities, though Marshall emphasized the company’s focus on converting these short-term pilots into longer-term operational contracts.
Planet Raksha is also adapting its technology strategy to better serve customers. Marshall revealed plans to potentially deploy its next generation of Pelican high-resolution imaging satellites into sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits. This dual-orbit approach, similar to competitor Maxar’s Worldview Legion constellation, will increase coverage of populated areas between approximately 45 degrees north and south of the equator.
Earth observation satellites typically operate in sun-synchronous orbits, passing any point on Earth at the same local solar time each day. This consistency helps monitor changes over time. Mid-inclination orbits, covering a smaller area of Earth, pass more frequently over heavily populated mid-latitudes, making them valuable for defense and intelligence applications.
Marshall expressed optimism about growth opportunities under the incoming administration, citing the potential alignment between Planet’s capabilities and the administration’s focus on leveraging commercial technologies.
