Planet Labs (Planet) has made a significant move in the launch services arena thanks to a new major multi-launch agreement with Stoke Space Technologies. Under a new, multi-launch agreement, Planet will receive 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 Nova launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 14 (SLC-14). Planet announced the deal, Nov. 9.
Planet said the multi-launch agreement supports the company’s long-term launch strategy as the company looks to build and maintain a diversified portfolio of launch providers.
“We need launch partners who move as quickly as we do. Stoke Space is building an exciting fully reusable launch capability, and we’re partnering to drive forward highly responsive launch options,” Will Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Planet, said in a statement.
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 (LEO) in a fully reusable configuration.
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 raised $1 billion in funding to support the first launch of its Nova rocket, targeted for early 2027.
Planet Chief Strategy Officer Robbie Schingler recently spoke with Via Satellite about the company’s multi-launch provider strategy — that Planet aims to be a first or early customer for emerging launch providers, including the recent agreement with Isar Aerospace.
“We have a number [of new rockets] that are coming up. We know all of them, we visit all of them. We’re their first customer,” he said. “We’re a tough customer – we help them get better and to give good customer service. We end up getting good deals because we take that risk along with the early launch providers to help them mature.”
