Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about change on Earth, have announced a multi-launch agreement with Stoke Space Technologies, Inc., a developer of fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicles, to provide expanded launch capacity for Planet’s constellation fleet.
Under the agreement, Planet receives primary payload rights, granting critical scheduling flexibility to specify launch dates and target orbital planes for its payloads. The missions will launch aboard Stoke Space’s fully reusable vehicle, Nova, from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 14 (SLC-14), the historic launch site known for sending John Glenn into orbit as the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.
“We are proud to partner with Planet, an industry pioneer that has led by example in growing and evolving commercial space,” said Andy Lapsa, Co-Founder and CEO of Stoke Space. “Providing dependable, customer-driven launch services is at the core of what we are building at Stoke.”
The multi-launch agreement supports Planet's long-term launch strategy to ensure continual constellation maintenance and expansion. Planet continues to build and maintain a diversified portfolio of launch providers. Spanning emerging innovators and established players both in the US and internationally, Planet is committed to ensuring steady and persistent access to orbit as it expands its constellations to meet growing customer demand. Future missions under this contract will align with Stoke Space's ongoing technology development path, which includes orbital flight demonstrations of its Nova Pathfinder vehicle beginning in 2027 and its subsequent rollout of Nova Block 2, designed to deliver more than 15 metric tons to low Earth orbit in a fully reusable configuration.
“We need launch partners who move as quickly as we do,” said Will Marshall, Co-Founder & CEO of Planet. “Stoke Space is building an exciting fully reusable launch capability, and we’re partnering to drive forward highly responsive launch options.”
Stoke Space is developing its fully reusable Nova rocket fleet to deliver flexible, high-frequency aircraft-like launch services designed to meet growing demand across commercial, defense, and civil space markets. The company recently announced its planned expansion, including the construction of a second launchpad and recovery infrastructure at SLC-14 d in preparation for upcoming flight campaigns.