How PlanetScope Constellation System Works?

If you've explored Planet constellation page, you may have noticed the animation at the top featuring white circles symbolizing satellites orbiting Earth. While this is an artistic representation, it accurately reflects Planet's extensive satellite network and the dynamics of its over 150 satellites. In this article, we'll take a closer look and provide more details about how it works.

This chart was originally designed by data artist Nadieh Bremer in 2018. While some of the data—like the number of satellites and their current status—are a bit outdated (it includes some older satellites no longer in orbit), the layout still accurately represents PlanetScope’s cross-orbit scanning for daily Earth coverage. It also highlights the contrasting behaviors of our satellite systems: the more structured, path-based navigation of PlanetScope satellites versus the autonomous, thruster-driven movement of SkySat satellites, which allows them to hover and operate independently across the globe. 

Despite its artistic style, the chart is rooted in reality. Unlike Sentinel and Landsat, which follow strict grid patterns, our constellation operates more dynamically. We have two main orbits: one ascending and the other descending, with satellites grouped in sets of three. Here's a quick sketch to give you a clearer idea:

A screen capture over Gaza Strip- captured on 02.04.2024. 

How could it be possible that a small strip doesn't contain data? This happens because CubeSats group together to image an area, which can lead to some gaps in coverage for smaller strips. This is illustrated in the scene below.

A. Kääb et al.: River-ice and water velocities using the Planet optical cubesat constellation, 2019

Unlike Sentinel and Landsat, which rely on a fixed grid system, our constellation is designed to be dynamic and highly adaptable. Take a look at the image below to see how even wider gaps can occur as demonstrated in these two groups of three satellites.

A Screen capture over northern Brazil - captured on 02.04.2024. We can clearly see that the strips marked in pink were captured close together as well as for the three marked in green.

In summary, Planet's dynamic satellite network redefines Earth observation with adaptable, high-frequency coverage. While artistic representations and older data provide context, our evolving technology ensures we capture even the most challenging areas, delivering reliable insights for a better understanding of our planet. Now, with the upcoming launches of Tanager and Pelican, it will be essential to update this animation.