Planet Opens Satellite Factory in Berlin
Pelican image over Planet’s new facility in Berlin on August 10, 2026 - © Planet Labs PBC
Berlin just got a serious upgrade to its space credentials. Planet, the US-based Earth observation company, welcomed German Economic Affairs Minister Katherina Reiche to officially open its new satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin's Mitte district this week, according to the company's press release.
The 5,700-square-meter site has moved fast. Announced less than a year ago, the facility has already completed handover and cleanroom fit-out, with production of Planet's 300 kg Pelican satellites set to begin this autumn. The first satellite should roll off the line before the end of the year, and the plant will eventually be able to produce up to 60 satellites a year.
“Europe needs its own eyes in space,” said Minister Reiche, calling satellite intelligence a prerequisite for security and strategic autonomy rather than a luxury.
Planet CEO Will Marshall struck a similarly ambitious tone, pointing to the company's track record of building and launching 688 satellites in 15 years, making it the second largest satellite operator worldwide. He said the Berlin site will help Europe build its own Earth observation fleets, covering everything from sustainability to security.
The facility will add 70 jobs to Planet's existing Berlin team of nearly 150, and will also house mission operations, IT, legal, marketing, HR and sales functions. The first Berlin-built Pelican satellites are scheduled to launch on an Isar Aerospace Spectrum rocket in early 2027, marking a new first for Germany.
Berlin has been Planet's European base for over ten years already, and the company now counts more than 30 percent of its global workforce across the continent.
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