BlackSky vs Planet Labs: Earth observation compared

November 2026 edition · assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence

Planet Labs ranks 17 on the Space 100 with a score of 82; BlackSky ranks 34 with 78. Planet Labs is ahead on production and firepower. Level on deployment, commercials, progress, technology, positioning and leverage. BlackSky is based in Herndon, United States, Planet Labs in San Francisco, United States. BlackSky: Established. Planet Labs: Public, founded 2010. BlackSky is named in 30 signals and Planet Labs in 32.

BlackSky →

Herndon, Virginia, United States · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Earth observation · Established · blacksky.com

BlackSky provides real-time satellite-derived intelligence for tactical surveillance, tracking and ISR customers including the U.S. Space Force and international defense users.

Space 100 · rank 34 · score 78AI Core · watchlist · score 61

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment8
Production6
Commercials8
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower8
Leverage6

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

BlackSky is a US Earth-observation operator (NYSE:BKSY) deploying its Gen-3 constellation (35cm imagery, sub-hourly revisit), with FY25 record revenue of $107M, Q2-26 revenue of $33M (+50%), and FY26 guidance of $130-150M at positive adjusted EBITDA (a second consecutive positive-EBITDA year). Backlog reached ~$380M by Q1-26 (including a $99M sole-source AFRL IDIQ ceiling), with more than 80% of funded backlog in multi-year international subscription contracts and international growth now outpacing the US. It is converting bespoke missions into recurring subscriptions while spending up to $60M capex to scale Gen-3.

Latest signals

  • BlackSky extended its HEO agreement with a seven-figure annual non-Earth imaging contract.Satellite Evolution
  • BlackSky CEO Brian O'Toole identifies sovereign market as the top opportunity at Space Defense and Security SummitVia Satellite
  • Sovereign Earth Observation satellite market executives assess changing dynamics at Space Defense and Security summitVia Satellite

30 signals name BlackSky.

Facts, with sources

  • Exclusive provider of a very high-resolution electro-optical constellation for a new space-based AI infrastructure initiativewww.stocktitan.net — 2026-09-09
  • Seven-figure, multi-year international contract for combined Assured and On-Demand subscriptionsLeoStella
  • International customer revenues grew year-over-year in Q2 2026SpaceNews

38 facts on file.

Planet Labs →

San Francisco, California, United States · Space · Satellites & spacecraft / Earth observation · Public · founded 2010 · www.planet.com

Planet operates Earth-observation satellite constellations, including SkySat, Pelican and Flock imaging satellites, and sells the resulting imagery and data.

Space 100 · rank 17 · score 82

Scores, Space (of 10)

Deployment8
Production8
Commercials8
Progress10
Technology8
Positioning8
Firepower9
Leverage6

Darker bar: ahead of the other company on that measure.

Positioning

Planet Labs is a US Earth-observation operator (~200 satellites launched) whose Pelican (high-res) and Tanager (hyperspectral) constellations are ramping, with FY26 revenue of $307.7M (+26%), its first full year of adjusted-EBITDA profitability and free cash flow, and FY27 guidance raised to $425-441M. Its growth engine is defense and intelligence (up 50% YoY, including a nine-figure Swedish Armed Forces deal and NATO extensions) on a backlog up 79% to ~$900M, though declining commercial agriculture and ~41% APAC concentration are mix risks. It has Google and NVIDIA partnerships and claims 98% recurring ACV.

Latest signals

  • Planet Labs indefinitely withheld satellite imagery of Iran and the surrounding conflict zone.Via Satellite
  • Google sent a Tensor Processing Unit into orbit to test space-based AI compute.The AI Insider
  • Planet Labs opened a satellite factory in Berlin, Germany.Space24

32 signals name Planet Labs.

Facts, with sources

  • Integration of SkySat imagery into HEO’s non-Earth imaging network, expanding the network to more than 50 in-space sensorsPayload
  • HEO partnership expanding its non-Earth imaging network to more than 50 in-space sensorsPayload
  • HEO and Planet Labs partnered to expand HEO’s non-Earth imaging network to more than 50 in-space sensorsPayload

56 facts on file.

More comparisons

Questions this page answers

BlackSky or Planet Labs: which is ahead in space?

Planet Labs ranks 17 on the Space 100 with a score of 82; BlackSky ranks 34 with 78. Planet Labs is ahead on production and firepower. Level on deployment, commercials, progress, technology, positioning and leverage. BlackSky is based in Herndon, United States, Planet Labs in San Francisco, United States. BlackSky: Established. Planet Labs: Public, founded 2010. BlackSky is named in 30 signals and Planet Labs in 32.

How do BlackSky and Planet Labs compare?

Planet Labs ranks 17 on the Space 100 with a score of 82; BlackSky ranks 34 with 78. Planet Labs is ahead on production and firepower. Level on deployment, commercials, progress, technology, positioning and leverage. BlackSky is based in Herndon, United States, Planet Labs in San Francisco, United States. BlackSky: Established. Planet Labs: Public, founded 2010. BlackSky is named in 30 signals and Planet Labs in 32. Both company files carry the scores on eight measures, the facts with sources and the latest signals.

Every comparison here comes from the same files members use every day.

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