Weekly GEOINT Community News

Planet Introduces Customer “Launch” Programs

Last week Planet announced Planet Launch Programs, a new offering that will help its customers get more value out of Planet’s data and drive more return on their investment. According to the company’s announcement, the initiative stems from the recognition that leveraging Planet’s platform and vast dataset can be challenging, particularly for first-time customers.

Planet Launch Programs are designed to lower the barrier to entry and ensure customers can integrate Planet products into their workflows to be successful in the long-term. Launch Programs will also help customers build the knowledge and skills of their teams to help them address future technical challenges before they escalate. The first Launch Program offering the company rolled out is Quickstart, a 14-day package that helps customers get up and running quickly. 

Maxar Partners with Vulcan Inc.

Maxar Technologies announced Vulcan Inc. signed a multi-year subscription for EarthWatch, a cloud-based product for viewing, streaming, and downloading Maxar’s geospatial data. The subscription will be used to develop solutions to Vulcan’s projects that address some of the world’s toughest challenges, such as detecting and identifying illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing for law enforcement. 

By using EarthWatch, Vulcan Domain Awareness Systems will have access to the high-resolution optical satellite imagery, which will be key to supporting impact projects like: enabling strategic intelligence and trafficking analysis for anti-poaching activities; providing a broader understanding of the complex reef ecosystems for protecting these vital environments; and bringing reliable power and connectivity to underserved areas.

DHS S&T Seeks Partners for First Responder R&D

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking potential partners from industry, academia, laboratories, and other organizations to help the agency build new technologies for first responders. DHS issued a Broad Agency Announcement solicitation last week seeking white papers for 12 first responder technology funding opportunities led by the department’s Science and Technology Directorate. 

Perspecta Receives DARPA Contract Option 

Perspecta’s research arm, Perspecta Labs, received a $4.8 million contract modification for Phase 2 of DARPA’s Secure Handhelds on Assured Resilient networks at the tactical Edge (SHARE) program. Under Phase 2 of the SHARE program, Perspecta Labs will advance its VeriNet technology, which enables secure information sharing between the U.S. and its coalition partners. VeriNet allows for the dissemination of information securely and at multiple levels of security and features rapid deployment capabilities, easy implementation of customized requirements for information sharing, and an intuitive user interface at the tactical edge using commercial handheld devices.

Spire Launches 100th CubeSat

Spire announced the launch of its 100th Lemur satellite. The deployment with NanoRacks represented their first CubeSat deployment mission on India’s Space Research Organization’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This mission was brokered on behalf of Spire, which now has four more of its Lemur 3U CubeSats in orbit. To date, of the 100 satellites Spire has launched, 37 were on NanoRacks missions including the Space Station, the Cygnus Spacecraft, and now PSLV.

Photo Credit: Spire Global