BlackSky

BlackSky operates a rapid-revisit small-satellite constellation designed to image the same location many times per day. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the company became public via a SPAC merger in 2021. Its core asset is the constellation; its Spectra AI software adds automated tasking and AI detection analytics that flag anomalies and identify vehicles, aircraft, and vessels.

BlackSky is scaling its Gen-3 satellites, which deliver 35-centimeter resolution and add a short-wave infrared sensor for imaging through haze, smoke, and low light. Gen-3 reached a commercial inflection in 2026 — the fourth Gen-3 satellite delivered imagery within roughly 12 hours of launch on March 12, 2026.

Recent contracts include an NGA Luno renewal, a roughly 30 million dollar one-year international defense contract in April 2026, and multiple eight-figure international sovereign Gen-3 deals in early 2026. BlackSky is smaller and less capitalized than rivals such as Planet and Vantor, and its growing base of international sovereign defense customers raises end-use questions common to persistent-surveillance businesses.