SpaceX to Launch Next Six Planet Satellites Written 14 May 2020
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a payload of satellites for SpaceX's Starlink broadband network stands ready for launch. | Associated Press-©
Space News reports that Planet “announced that its next six SkySat satellites will fly to low Earth orbit on SpaceX Starlink missions scheduled later this summer.” The “six SkySats will be evenly split across two launches on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Planet said May 13 in a news release.” The “first three – SkySats 16-18 – will launch on SpaceX’s ninth Starlink mission expected to launch in June. The next three – SkySats 19-21 – will launch later this summer.” These “remote sensing satellites” in sun-synchronous orbit will “collect high-resolution imagery, a capability that the company needs to compete in the national security market.”
Full Story (Space News)