BlackSky Technology

BlackSky operates a high-frequency Earth observation satellite constellation and the Spectra AI analytics platform, which provides automated monitoring and tasking within 90 minutes of a request. The company's Gen-2 constellation delivers sub-meter resolution imagery and is currently being augmented by the Gen-3 constellation, which achieved full commercial operation in early 2026. Gen-3 satellites provide 35-centimeter resolution and utilize Short-Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) sensors to image through smoke and haze. The Spectra AI platform integrates this proprietary satellite data with third-party sources, including IoT sensors and AIS feeds, to perform automated object detection and change monitoring for global customers.

BlackSky is a publicly traded company (NYSE: BKSY) headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, with its primary satellite manufacturing facility, LeoStella, located in Tukwila, Washington. The company achieved full vertical integration in November 2024 after acquiring the remaining 50% stake in LeoStella from Thales Alenia Space. BlackSky serves military and intelligence agencies through major contracts, including the National Reconnaissance Office’s Electro-Optical Commercial Layer and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Luno A program. The company primarily utilizes Rocket Lab's Electron vehicle for rapid-response launches to maintain and expand its orbital revisit capabilities.