BlackSky and Rocket Lab Establish Launch Window for Second Gen-3 Satellite

Business Wire

22-05-2025

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) have established a launch window opening May 27 for the second Gen-3 satellite. The launch, named 'Full Stream Ahead,' will add very high-resolution 35-centimeter imaging capability to BlackSky's high-cadence, low-latency data and AI-enabled analytics offerings.
BlackSky is setting new industry standards using advanced software and AI-enabled automation to accelerate space-based intelligence capabilities through disruptive speed, economics and insights.
'Each successive Gen-3 launch represents a major step forward for our global defense and intelligence customer base with the prospect of new mission applications that will be enabled by combining very high-resolution imaging with high-frequency monitoring and advanced AI analytics,' said Brian O'Toole, BlackSky CEO. 'With every Gen-3 addition we improve revisit rates, capacity and the quantity and quality of actionable intelligence for our customers.'
BlackSky is setting new industry standards using advanced software and AI-enabled automation to accelerate space-based intelligence capabilities through disruptive speed, economics and insights. BlackSky has signed multiple early access contracts for Gen-3 services with anticipated general commercial availability anticipated to begin by Q4. The company is on track to place eight Gen-3 satellites on orbit by early 2026.
As BlackSky's constellation evolves with the regular addition of Gen-3 satellites, BlackSky will continue to optimize for increased constellation capacity and flexibility giving customers confidence in reliable access to services. Gen-3 customers will be able to conduct the automated detection, identification and classification of a wide library of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other objects of tactical interest. These new capabilities will further enable BlackSky's space-based intelligence applications for tactical ISR missions and strategic intelligence operations.
About BlackSky Technology Inc.
BlackSky is a real-time, space-based intelligence company that delivers on-demand, high frequency imagery, analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of the most critical and strategic locations, economic assets, and events in the world. BlackSky owns and operates one of the industry's most advanced, purpose-built commercial, real-time intelligence systems that combines the power of the BlackSky Spectra ® tasking and analytics software platform and our proprietary low earth orbit satellite constellation.
With BlackSky, customers can see, understand and anticipate changes for a decisive strategic advantage at the tactical edge, and act not just fast, but first. BlackSky is trusted by some of the most demanding U.S. and international government agencies, commercial businesses, and organizations around the world. BlackSky is headquartered in Herndon, VA, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as BKSY. To learn more, visit www.blacksky.com and follow us on X (Twitter).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to BlackSky. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words 'believe,' 'project,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'strategy,' 'future,' 'opportunity,' 'plan,' 'may,' 'should,' 'will,' 'would,' 'will be,' 'will continue,' 'will likely result,' and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors, including, without limitation, stock market conditions and our ability to complete the launch, could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this document. If any of these risks materialize or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication, and subsequent events and developments could cause our assessments to change. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in BlackSky's disclosure materials filed from time to time with the SEC which are available at the SEC's website at www.SEC.gov.