Planet Labs has opened a satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin, bringing satellite build, test and shipment operations into Europe for the first time. German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche attended the opening, while the company plans to begin Pelican production this autumn and complete the first Berlin-built satellite before year-end.
The 5,700-square-metre site in Berlin-Mitte was announced less than a year ago and has now completed handover and cleanroom fit-out. Planet plans to scale output to as many as 60 satellites a year, with the facility dedicated to 300 kg-class Pelican spacecraft designed for 30 cm resolution. The first Berlin-built satellites are scheduled for launch on an Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket in early 2027.
The new plant expands Planet’s European base beyond engineering, mission operations, data and business functions into manufacturing. Berlin has served as Planet’s European hub for more than a decade, and the company expects the site to support demand for more localised and resilient aerospace and defence capabilities in Europe.