{"title":"BlackSky vs Planet Labs: Earth observation compared","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/compare/blacksky-vs-planet-labs","comparison":"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.","companies":[{"name":"BlackSky","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/blacksky","city":"Herndon","country":"United States","stage":"Established","founded":null,"last_round":null,"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.","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":34,"score":78,"tier":"member","scores":{"gate_ne":["firepower"],"leverage":6,"position":8,"progress":10,"firepower":8,"commercial":8,"deployment":8,"production":6,"technology":8},"why":"BlackSky provides real-time satellite-derived intelligence for tactical surveillance, tracking and ISR customers including the U.S. Space Force and international defense users.","segment":"Earth observation","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":30,"facts_total":38},{"name":"Planet Labs","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/planet-labs","city":"San Francisco","country":"United States","stage":"Public","founded":2010,"last_round":null,"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.","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":17,"score":82,"tier":"member","scores":{"leverage":6,"position":8,"progress":10,"firepower":9,"commercial":8,"deployment":8,"production":8,"technology":8},"why":"Planet operates Earth-observation satellite constellations, including SkySat, Pelican and Flock imaging satellites, and sells the resulting imagery and data.","segment":"Earth observation","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":32,"facts_total":56}],"note":"Assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence; facts and signals carry their sources."}