The launch of the sole Suncatcher, single Tanager-2 and 18 SuperDove EO satellites take Planet’s total satellite tally to 718.

Planet Labs successfully launched 20 satellites aboard the Transporter-18 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 1 October.

According to the company, this marks Planet’s 40th successful launch and brings it total tally to 718 satellites built and delivered to orbit.

The launch comprised the first demonstration mission for Google’s Project Suncatcher, as well as Tanager-2, Planet’s its latest hyperspectral satellite, and 18 SuperDove satellites.

Developed in partnership with Google, the Project Suncatcher satellite will run the first-ever test of Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) in space.

The project is exploring the feasibility of running machine learning (ML) compute systems in-orbit.

Developed in partnership with Carbon Mapper, Tanager-2 features hyperspectral VSWIR (Visible, Near-infrared and Short-wave infrared) imaging capabilities. Its adjustable sensitivity imaging spectroscopy payload is designed to capture imagery in 426 contiguous bands with ~5 nm spectral resolution at 30 m spatial resolution.

This configuration makes Tanager suitable for a range of hyperspectral applications such as rare-earth element (REE) identification, water quality analysis, agricultural intelligence, and detecting methane emissions.

Carbon Mapper plans to deploy at least three more Tanager satellites.

The 18 SuperDoves of Flock 4J will supplement PlanetScope, Planet’s near-daily, global monitoring mission, which aims to provide consistent global coverage across millions of square kilometres.