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Planet Ships Pelican-11 Satellite to Launch Site

June 2, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Planet ships Pelican-11 to Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Pelican-11 is a tech demonstration satellite for the Gen 2 Pelican fleet.
The satellite will test new technologies before integration on Gen 2 Pelicans.
Planet plans to launch additional Pelican spacecraft in 2026 and 2027.

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Strategic Implications

This development may indicate Planet's focus on advancing its high-resolution imaging capabilities, which could strengthen its position in the commercial Earth observation market. The launch of Pelican-11 suggests a continued investment in testing and refining new technologies, which could benefit Planet's future satellite designs and operations.

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What Happened

Tech Demonstration Satellite Prepares for Transporter-17 Mission

Planet Labs PBC has announced that Pelican-11, a tech demonstration satellite for its second-generation high-resolution Pelican fleet, has shipped to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California ahead of its launch on the Transporter-17 rideshare mission with SpaceX. The satellite will serve as a testbed for new technologies and concepts of operation before their integration on Planet’s Gen 2 Pelicans, which are designed to provide up to 30 cm class imagery. Planet plans to launch additional Pelican spacecraft in 2026 and 2027 to meet growing customer demand for high-resolution data products, as reported by the Financial Times.

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