Planet Labs Opens Berlin Satellite Manufacturing Facility With Capacity for 60 Spacecraft Annually

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) has opened a new satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin’s Mitte district, expanding its European operations and establishing production capacity for its Pelican satellite programme.

German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche attended the opening of the 5,700-square-metre facility.

The site has completed its cleanroom fit-out and is scheduled to begin manufacturing Pelican satellites this autumn.

Pelican Satellite Production to Begin This Autumn

The facility will manufacture Planet’s Pelican satellites, which belong to the 300 kg class and are designed to deliver imagery with a resolution of 30 centimetres.

The first satellite is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.

Once operational, the Berlin facility will have the capacity to produce up to 60 satellites annually.

Planet expects the first satellites manufactured at the site to launch aboard an Isar Aerospace Spectrum launch vehicle in early 2027.

Planet Plans to Expand Berlin Workforce

The company intends to recruit 70 additional employees, building on its existing Berlin workforce of nearly 150.

Alongside satellite manufacturing and testing, the facility will accommodate mission operations, information technology, legal, marketing, human resources and sales functions.

Will Marshall, Planet’s co-founder and Chief Executive, said:

“Today I’m thrilled to give a first look at Planet’s world-class manufacturing center and the future of Planet in Berlin, Germany, and Europe.”

He added:

“Planet has built and successfully launched 688 satellites in 15 years, second in the world in total satellites – and we’re bringing that manufacturing prowess here.”

Berlin Facility Builds on Existing European Operations

Planet has operated in Berlin for more than a decade, using the city as its European base.

Its existing activities in the German capital include a mission operations centre, software development and satellite imagery processing.

The company said it had previously secured a German-funded contract requiring the delivery of dedicated satellite capacity within two months of contract signature.

Planet also reported delivering a sovereign satellite to Sweden within four months.

These projects form part of its work providing satellite capabilities to government customers.

European Network Supports Satellite Data Operations

Planet operates a network of ground stations across Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and Iceland.

According to the company, this network downlinks nearly 50% of its satellite data globally.

More than 30% of Planet’s worldwide workforce is based in Europe, with offices in Berlin, Haarlem, Ljubljana, Graz and London.

The new manufacturing facility adds satellite production and testing to Planet’s established European operations, expanding the company’s regional capabilities beyond software, mission management and imagery processing.

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