SpaceX will launch a satellite demonstration from Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) to record change on planet Earth as part of a new space mission on Saturday.
Elon Musk’s space exploration business is expected to kickstart the Transporter-9 space mission tomorrow, launching a ‘ride-share’ spacecraft that is due to lift off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The spacecraft is expected to take off at 10:49 am Pacific Time from the US launch pad, taking dozens of satellites for commercial and government customers into space throughout the course of the mission.
On board the latest mission will be the Pelican-1 demonstration satellite from Planet Labs (NYSE:PL), a New York Stock Exchange-listed company that provides daily data and insights about planet Earth.
36 SuperDoves and Flock 4Q satellites will also fly into space on board the SpaceX spacecraft as part of the mission.
Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) has launched more than 500 satellites since 2013 as part of its flagship Dove series, which have captured change on planet Earth through daily scans saved in an archive of at least 2,400 images.
The Pelican-1 satellite was designed and built by Planet Labs and has a goal to validate the design and operations of its common bus platform.
That platform will host the company’s next generation of imaging sensors, which will be deployed as part of the Pelican and Tanager constellations.
The Pelican constellation aims to improve Planet Labs’ existing high-resolution system SkySats satellite that is already in orbit today.
It will start producing commercial imagery once further iterations of the Pelican satellite platform are operational.