SKY Perfect JSAT is the customer behind Planet’s $230 million LEO order

TAMPA, Fla. — Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT unveiled itself as the customer behind the low Earth orbit (LEO) imagery constellation that San Francisco-based Planet announced last week, committing $230 million to expand beyond its geostationary business.

The Japanese operator said Feb. 5 it will own Pelican high-resolution optical imagery satellites provided by Planet under a U.S.-based entity called JSAT Beyond Innovation, a move likely aimed at enhancing access to the country’s expansive defense market.

A Planet spokesperson said the agreement covers 10 satellites, and “the build and operational service period of the satellites is estimated to be approximately seven years.”

For much of its more than 35-year history, SKY Perfect JSAT has focused on providing regional broadband and TV services and currently counts 17 satellites in its geostationary fleet.

However, in 2019 the company started expanding into space-based intelligence services and later invested in iQPS, a Japanese venture developing a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation.

The company said its partnership with Planet enables it to fully enter the Earth observation sector, strengthening its position in the growing defense and intelligence markets while leveraging in-house data analysis capabilities.

The companies did not say when Planet plans to deploy the satellites.

Representing Planet’s largest contract to date, the Californian company last week said it will recognize $230 million in commercial payments under the deal over “the next six or more years.”

Planet, which already operates one of the world’s largest imagery constellations with around 200 satellites in LEO, also plans to use the extra capacity for its own needs but did not provide details.

SKY Perfect JSAT said it has been collaborating with Planet for more than a decade, primarily helping the company sell observation satellite data in Japan.