US satellite maker Planet Labs opens Berlin factory as military demand booms

US company Planet Labs plans to begin satellite manufacturing in Berlin starting this autumn. The entire production and testing of satellites is to take place in Berlin, according to Martin Polak, the company's German business manager speaking to the German Press Agency in Berlin. This new production facility marks the first fully-fledged manufacturing site for the company, alongside its San Francisco location in the United States.

The first satellite to be built in Berlin is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The facility has the potential to scale up to a capacity of up to 60 satellites per year, though the company did not provide a detailed breakdown of the investment. Currently, the Berlin office employs around 150 workers, with an additional 70 more expected to join.

The satellites, known as Pelican satellites, are designed to deliver high-resolution images for Earth observation and can provide crucial information, including in the Ukraine conflict. Planet Labs reassured that they have been serving government customers in Europe without issues for over a decade, aiming to reduce dependencies for European customers and strengthen their operational resilience and control in Europe.

This would be achieved through satellite manufacturing in Berlin, mission operations from Germany, European ground stations, and data stored in a European cloud infrastructure. When asked about potential US government access or influence, Polak did not provide a response.