SSL Ships Planet’s Two SkySat Imaging Satellites to Vandenberg Air Force Base; Dario Zamarian Quoted

Maxar Technologies’ SSL subsidiary has delivered to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California two Earth observation satellites the company built for Planet.

The SSL-made SkySat 14 and 15 will fly aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as part of Spaceflight’s maiden Sun Synchronous rideshare mission for Planet’s constellation that works to provide 72-centimeter satellite imagery, Maxar said Wednesday.

Dario Zamarian, group president of SSL, said the partnership with Planet seeks to reflect SSL’s innovation and effort to meet the increasing demand for small form-factor satellites.

SSL manufactures Planet’s satellites through its production facility in Palo Alto, Calif., including six spacecraft that took off in 2017.