SAN FRANCISCO: Today, Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a major provider of daily Earth data and insights, announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) to improve the Pelican-2 satellite’s onboard processing capabilities. The goal of the collaboration is to incorporate NVIDIA’s Jetson AI platform into Planet’s next-generation high-resolution mission. Later this year, the Pelican-2 satellite is scheduled to launch.
This project will make use of NVIDIA’s GPU accelerated processing to offer quick insights and intelligent imagery to Planet’s clientele, which includes both government and commercial sectors. Through the implementation of state-of-the-art advances in artificial intelligence, Planet expects to provide its consumers with vital data more quickly.
The goal of this partnership, according to Kiruthika Devaraj, VP of Avionics and Spacecraft at Planet, is to provide clients with near-real-time responses straight from orbit. With the addition of NVIDIA Jetson and real-time connectivity, the high-resolution optical sensor on the Pelican satellite promises improved solutions and the capacity to quickly process and download imagery and insights, even in a variety of connectivity conditions.
The importance of on-orbit computing capabilities was highlighted by Deepak Vasisht, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These capabilities eliminate the delay caused by downloading and processing data on Earth and enable immediate understanding and tracking of phenomena like forest fires and disasters as they occur.
Planet is poised to be among the first companies to space-qualify and launch NVIDIA Jetson on an Earth observation satellite, thanks to the impending technological demonstrations on Pelican-2.
Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet Labs manages the largest fleet of imaging satellites for Earth observation and supplies vital information and analytics to more than a thousand clients in a range of sectors, including government agencies, forestry, agriculture, and intelligence.
According to a news release, Planet is committed to using the most recent technology developments to improve the usability and accessibility of satellite images for a wide range of applications. This partnership is evidence of that dedication.
Other recent news includes the notable advancements Planet Labs has made in both its strategic direction and financial performance. The company that provides satellite imagery reported record-breaking Q1 sales of $60.4 million for the fiscal year 2025, up 15% from the same period last year. Strong performance in the government sector, especially in intelligence and defense, was the main driver of this rise. By contrast, cautious expenditure and lower renewals led to a 13% fall in the commercial segment.
In addition, Planet Labs renewed a portion of its Exclusive Operating Control License (EOCL) contract and announced major new agreements with the Kenya Space Agency and the civil governments of the United Kingdom. These advancements show that the business is still growing and interacting with the government. To further demonstrate its advancements in product offerings, the company developed the Planet Insights platform and readied the first Tanager satellite for launch.
Needham maintained its Buy recommendation for Planet Labs despite the uneven performance in the company’s several businesses, voicing confidence in the company’s strategic direction and projecting long-term development. On the other hand, Craig-Hallum kept its Hold rating and cut the company’s price objective from $3.00 to $2.00 because of difficulties with customer retention. However, Planet Labs continues to focus on operational efficiency and profitability as evidenced by its strong cash balance of $276 million and the backlog of about $220 million.
