{"title":"BlackSky vs Planet: Earth observation compared","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/compare/blacksky-vs-planet","comparison":"BlackSky ranks 34 on the Space 100 with a score of 78; Planet ranks 92 with 65. BlackSky is ahead on deployment, technology and positioning. Planet is ahead on production, firepower and leverage. Level on commercials and progress. BlackSky is based in Herndon, United States, Planet in San Francisco, United States. BlackSky: Established. Planet: public. BlackSky is named in 30 signals and Planet in 28.","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","url":"https://www.frontiertechintelligence.com/companies/planet","city":"San Francisco","country":"United States","stage":"public","founded":null,"last_round":null,"positioning":"","assessed_in":{"domain":"Space","list":"Space 100","rank":92,"score":65,"tier":"member","scores":{"leverage":8,"position":7,"progress":10,"firepower":9,"commercial":8,"deployment":1,"production":9,"technology":4},"why":"Planet sells customer-facing satellite-data analytics through Planet AI Application, which lets users query imagery and generate time-series insights.","segment":"Earth observation","layer":"Satellites & spacecraft"},"signals_total":28,"facts_total":12}],"note":"Assessment by Frontier Tech Intelligence; facts and signals carry their sources."}