Agile Satellite Operations Supports BlackSky Clients During Ukraine Crisis
In response to the war in Ukraine, BlackSky has employed agile satellite operations to shift orbits and launch two new satellites within 45 days. In addition to generating a strategic increase in constellation capacity, customers received dawn-to-dusk analytics and imagery products of Ukraine within 24 hours of the company’s most recent launch on April 2.
“We continue to stand with and provide support for the courageous people of Ukraine.”
Brian E. O'Toole, BlackSky CEO.
“We’re setting a new standard in the new space industry for speed, resilience, and agility,” said Brian E. O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “Our two newest satellites went from launch to delivering images of Ukraine to customers on day one.”
“Shifting orbits can traditionally be a months or years-long process,” O’Toole said. “In February, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine we changed the orbit plans for our two newest satellites to improve the intra-day revisit frequency with which imagery and analytics could be compiled over Ukraine and the surrounding region, which is a notoriously difficult area to image due to weather.”
The agile satellite operations of BlackSky’s constellation provides dawn-to-dusk coverage of the most critical locations and economic assets in the world. In combination with BlackSky’s Spectra AI tasking and analytics platform customers can log in, task a satellite through a browser, and receive imagery and analytics in 90 minutes.
“We continue to stand with and provide support for the courageous people of Ukraine,” O’Toole said. “Clear insight into what’s happening on the ground is helping non-profits, governments and companies respond to the economic and humanitarian impacts of the crisis as it continues to unfold.”
Shortly after the conflict began, BlackSky issued a statement saying "We will continue to share geo-spatial imagery and analytics from Ukraine to help show the world the seriousness of the situation and be moved to help.
"BlackSky is offering assistance to humanitarian groups, aid workers, our customers and the media to understand the events on the ground as they unfold in order to assist in providing support to the people of Ukraine.
"BlackSky has been moved by the outpouring of support from our employees and is matching each of their financial donations to double the impact of their compassion."
(Image provided with BlackSky news release)