BlackSky - RKLB Wiki

**Name:** BlackSky **Website:** https://www.blacksky.com/ >[!summary] BlackSky is a **U.S.-based geospatial intelligence company** that specializes in providing **real-time Earth observation data** and **analytics**. The company operates a constellation of **low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites** designed to capture high-resolution imagery multiple times per day. BlackSky integrates satellite imagery with **artificial intelligence (AI)** and other data sources to deliver **actionable insights** for applications such as **defense, disaster response, supply chain monitoring, and infrastructure management**. BlackSky's subscription-based platform offers near real-time access to **global monitoring** capabilities, enabling rapid decision-making for commercial and government clients. ## 🚀 Launches %%DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ``` table launch_date as "Date", location as "Location", vehicle as "Vehicle", target_orbit + " | " + payload_mass as "Orbit & Mass", outcome as "Outcome" from "Launch/Launches" where contains(customer, [[BlackSky]]) sort launch_date desc ``` %% | File | Date | Location | Vehicle | Orbit & Mass | Outcome | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | --------- | | [[Launch/Launches/060 - Fasten Your Space Belts.md\|060 - Fasten Your Space Belts]] | 2025-02-19 12:17 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad B\|LC1-B]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 470km \| 59° \| 138 kg | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/035 - The Beat Goes On.md\|035 - The Beat Goes On]] | 2023-03-24 09:14 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad B\|LC1-B]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 450 km \| 42° \| 120 kg | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/025 - Without Mission A Beat.md\|025 - Without Mission A Beat]] | 2022-04-02 12:41 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 430 km \| 53° \| 120 kg | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/023 - A Data With Destiny.md\|023 - A Data With Destiny]] | 2021-12-09 00:02 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 430 km \| 42° \| 120 kg | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/022 - Love At First Insight.md\|022 - Love At First Insight]] | 2021-11-18 01:38 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 430 km \| 42° \| 120 kg | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/020 - Running Out Of Toes.md\|020 - Running Out Of Toes]] | 2021-05-15 11:11 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 430 km \| 50° \| 120 kg | ❌ Failure | | [[Launch/Launches/019 - They Go Up So Fast.md\|019 - They Go Up So Fast]] | 2021-03-22 22:30 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 450 km and 550 km \| 45° \| Unknown | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/008 - Look Ma, No Hands.md\|008 - Look Ma, No Hands]] | 2019-08-19 12:12 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 510 km \| 94.8° \| 80 kg | ✅ Success | | [[Launch/Launches/007 - Make it Rain.md\|007 - Make it Rain]] | 2019-06-29 04:30 | [[Locations/Launch Complex 1.md#Launch Pad A\|LC1-A]] | [[Launch/Electron.md\|Electron]] | 450 km \| 45° \| 80 kg | ✅ Success | %%DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %% ## 🛰️ Space Systems ### BlackSky Gen-2 https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/blacksky-global.htm The satellites feature the SpaceView-24 imaging system built by Harris Corp.'s Exelis with an aperture of 24 cm It has a ground resolution of 0.9 - 1.1 m from an orbital height of 500 km. They have a onboard propulsion for a 3 year orbital life. The satellites are built by Spaceflight Services based on their SCOUT bus. ![[Pasted image 20250303200134.jpg]] ### BlackSky Gen-3 🔗 https://www.blacksky.com/gen-3/ [🔧 Data Sheet](https://www.blacksky.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BlackSky-Gen-3-Data-Sheet.pdf) BlackSky's latest generation Earth Observation satellite featuring 35 cm resolution, multispectral capabilities, AI-enabled analytics, low-latency communications, and a highly agile attitude control system. ![[Pasted image 20250303195116.png]] | Specification | Value | | --------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Tasking to collection | < 10 hours | | Collection to delivery | < 90 minutes | | Automated object detection | Vehicles: Truck, semi-truck, pickup, jeep, van, private car, bus, construction vehicle Vessels: Small vessel, tug, container, warship, patrol, submarine, merchant vessel, other | | NIIRS image quality class | Visible: NIIRS 5+ Shortwave infrared: NIIRS 3+ | | Best ground sample distance (GSD) | Visible: 35 cm Shortwave infrared: 1.2 m | | Minimum scene size | Visible: 18 km² (3.7 km x 4.9 km) Shortwave infrared: 1.8 km² (1.2 km x 1.5 km) | | Spectral bands | RGB, panchromatic, shortwave infrared | | Geolocation accuracy | < 20 m CE90 < 10 m CE90 in Australia, United States | | Orbital altitude | 450 km low-earth orbit (LEO) | | Orbital inclination | Mid-inclined orbit (MIO) Capable of sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) | | Communications | X-band primary downlink S-band primary uplink UHF backup uplink and downlink | | Design life | 5+ years | ## 📰 News %%DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: start ``` table published as "Published" from "News" where contains(customer, [[BlackSky]]) sort published desc ``` %% | File | Published | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------- | | [[News/Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 60th Electron, First of Multiple New Missions for BlackSky.md\|Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 60th Electron, First of Multiple New Missions for BlackSky]] | February 18, 2025 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Schedules Launch for First of Multiple Missions for BlackSky.md\|Rocket Lab Schedules Launch for First of Multiple Missions for BlackSky]] | February 10, 2025 | | [[News/BlackSky Signs New Block Buy for Five Rocket Lab Launches.md\|BlackSky Signs New Block Buy for Five Rocket Lab Launches]] | August 08, 2023 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 35th Electron Seven Days After Previous Launch, Sets New Company Record for Fastest Launch Turnaround.md\|Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 35th Electron Seven Days After Previous Launch, Sets New Company Record for Fastest Launch Turnaround]] | March 24, 2023 | | [[News/Rocket Lab to Launch Pair of Satellites for BlackSky from New Zealand Just Days After Successful Launch from Virginia.md\|Rocket Lab to Launch Pair of Satellites for BlackSky from New Zealand Just Days After Successful Launch from Virginia]] | March 17, 2023 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Plans Two Launches Days Apart From Two Continents.md\|Rocket Lab Plans Two Launches Days Apart From Two Continents]] | February 28, 2023 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 112th Satellite to Orbit.md\|Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 112th Satellite to Orbit]] | April 03, 2022 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Confirms Next Electron Launch Window Opens for BlackSky April 1, 2022 UTC; Provides Update on Effect to Prior Q1 Revenue Guidance.md\|Rocket Lab Confirms Next Electron Launch Window Opens for BlackSky April 1, 2022 UTC; Provides Update on Effect to Prior Q1 Revenue Guidance]] | March 24, 2022 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Readies First 2022 Electron Launch, BlackSky Adds Another Mission to Manifest.md\|Rocket Lab Readies First 2022 Electron Launch, BlackSky Adds Another Mission to Manifest]] | January 18, 2022 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Launches 109th Satellite to Orbit.md\|Rocket Lab Launches 109th Satellite to Orbit]] | December 09, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Confirms Helicopter Capture Attempt For Next Recovery Mission.md\|Rocket Lab Confirms Helicopter Capture Attempt For Next Recovery Mission]] | November 23, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Launches 107th Satellite To Orbit, Successfully Tests Helicopter Recovery Operations.md\|Rocket Lab Launches 107th Satellite To Orbit, Successfully Tests Helicopter Recovery Operations]] | November 18, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Rocket, Introduce Helicopter Operations During Next Launch.md\|Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Rocket, Introduce Helicopter Operations During Next Launch]] | October 19, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Launch Operations Underway For Two BlackSky Missions in November.md\|Rocket Lab Launch Operations Underway For Two BlackSky Missions in November]] | October 11, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab to Launch Three Back-To-Back Missions for BlackSky from late August.md\|Rocket Lab to Launch Three Back-To-Back Missions for BlackSky from late August]] | August 10, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Completes Anomaly Review, Next Mission on the Pad in July.md\|Rocket Lab Completes Anomaly Review, Next Mission on the Pad in July]] | July 19, 2021 | | [[News/The Federal Aviation Administration Approves Rocket Lab To Resume Launches.md\|The Federal Aviation Administration Approves Rocket Lab To Resume Launches]] | June 02, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Experiences Anomaly During Launch.md\|Rocket Lab Experiences Anomaly During Launch]] | May 17, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Progresses Flight Review, Recovers First Stage Following Successful Ocean Splashdown.md\|Rocket Lab Progresses Flight Review, Recovers First Stage Following Successful Ocean Splashdown]] | May 17, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission.md\|Rocket Lab to Recover Electron Booster on Next Mission]] | April 08, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Inks Deal to Launch Five Missions for BlackSky Constellation.md\|Rocket Lab Inks Deal to Launch Five Missions for BlackSky Constellation]] | March 25, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 19th Electron, Deploys 100th Satellite.md\|Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 19th Electron, Deploys 100th Satellite]] | March 23, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab’s Next Mission to Launch 100th Satellite and Deploy Next-Generation Photon Spacecraft in Preparation for Moon Mission.md\|Rocket Lab’s Next Mission to Launch 100th Satellite and Deploy Next-Generation Photon Spacecraft in Preparation for Moon Mission]] | February 09, 2021 | | [[News/Rocket Lab successfully launches eighth Electron mission, takes next step in recovery and reuse for future flights.md\|Rocket Lab successfully launches eighth Electron mission, takes next step in recovery and reuse for future flights]] | August 20, 2019 | | [[News/Rocket Lab’s Next Mission Focused On Building Constellations And Enabling R&D.md\|Rocket Lab’s Next Mission Focused On Building Constellations And Enabling R&D]] | July 22, 2019 | | [[News/Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron mission, deploys seven satellites to orbit.md\|Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron mission, deploys seven satellites to orbit]] | June 29, 2019 | | [[News/Rocket Lab to launch rideshare mission for Spaceflight.md\|Rocket Lab to launch rideshare mission for Spaceflight]] | May 10, 2019 | | [[News/Rocket Lab confirms three launches with Spaceflight, including missions for Canon Electronics and BlackSky.md\|Rocket Lab confirms three launches with Spaceflight, including missions for Canon Electronics and BlackSky]] | June 11, 2018 | %%DATAVIEW_PUBLISHER: end %%