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 seeks 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 established players like Maxar Intelligence and BlackSky for government contracts.
Planet operates one of the world’s largest commercial satellite constellations, with over 200 Earth observation satellites providing daily global coverage. The company combines this imaging capability with artificial intelligence-driven analytics to provide insights to customers.
“Timely, high-resolution satellite imagery is now more critical than ever to help combat the world’s most pressing issues, from natural disasters to geopolitical conflict,” Raymond said in a statement Jan. 16.
Eyes on defense market
The appointment comes as Planet eyes a more aggressive push 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 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 operational contracts.
Planet is also adapting its technology strategy to better serve defense customers. Marshall revealed plans to potentially deploy its next-generation Pelican high-resolution imaging satellites in both sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits. This dual-orbit approach, similar to competitor Maxar’s WorldView Legion constellation, would enhance coverage of populated areas between approximately 45 degrees north and south of the equator.
Earth observation satellites typically operate in sun-synchronous orbits, passing over any given point on Earth at the same local solar time each day. This consistency helps in monitoring changes over time. Mid-inclination orbits, while covering a smaller area of Earth, provide more frequent passes over heavily populated middle latitudes, making them valuable for defense and intelligence applications.
Marshall expressed optimism about growth opportunities under the incoming administration, citing potential alignment between Planet’s capabilities and the administration’s focus on leveraging commercial technologies.
Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIA’s National Defense…
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