Planet Labs Germany has appointed Wolfgang Schmidt, the former German Federal Minister for Special Affairs and Head of the Federal Chancellery, to its European Advisory Board. The appointment strengthens the company's strategic leadership as it expands its presence in Europe and advances plans for a new satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin. This facility will serve as Planet’s European center for advanced satellite manufacturing, reinforcing Germany’s role in the New Space ecosystem.

Wolfgang Schmidt brings extensive knowledge of the German, European, and international political landscapes to the role. In addition to his tenure as head of the Chancellery, Schmidt oversaw the intelligence services at the Federal level in Germany. His experience is expected to support Planet as it navigates the evolving European policy landscape and meets the needs of its growing customer base.

Will Marshall, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet, highlighted the value of Schmidt’s expertise in facilitating partnerships and European policymaking. Marshall noted that Schmidt’s experience will be invaluable as Planet expands its manufacturing operations in Germany, underscoring the company's long-term commitment to the region.

Martin Polak, Managing Director of Planet Labs Germany, emphasized the strategic importance of Berlin as a hub for Planet’s activities. He stated that the investment in satellite manufacturing reflects a commitment to strengthening Europe’s industrial capabilities in Earth observation.

Schmidt joins existing European Advisory Board members, including Carl Bildt, Dr. Neelie Kroes, David Miliband, Oleksii Reznikov, and Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen. The board guides Planet’s strategic expansion in Europe and helps navigate the region's policy environment.

European Advisory Board Members

Planet Labs Germany and European space company Isar Aerospace have entered a strategic launch agreement to deploy a German-built satellite on a German-built rocket. The partnership targets the first mission of its kind for Germany, with a launch scheduled as early as late 2026 from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated launch complex at Andøya Space. The agreement involves the launch of one of Planet’s next-generation high-resolution Pelican satellites, with additional satellites planned for future missions.

The Pelican satellite will be assembled in Planet’s upcoming Berlin manufacturing facility, while the launch will utilize Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum launch vehicle. Both companies have set an ambitious goal to execute the first launch within less than 12 months of the agreement. This timeline is intended to demonstrate an agile aerospace approach and support national priorities across security, resilience, and civil applications.

Expansion and Manufacturing

Planet is expanding its local footprint in 2026 with a new manufacturing facility in Berlin to double the production capacity of its Pelican fleet. The company expects to add up to 70 new employees to its existing team of about 150 in Berlin. This expansion aims to strengthen Germany’s role in Europe’s commercial space ecosystem and AI-enabled geospatial solutions.

Isar Aerospace is ramping up manufacturing capabilities for its Spectrum launch vehicle at its 40,000 square meter factory near Munich. The company plans to build up to 40 launch vehicles per year, focusing on automation and vertical integration to control nearly every stage of the value chain, from design and manufacturing to testing and launching.

Strategic Importance

The collaboration underscores the growing strategic importance of the German and European space ecosystem. Executives from both companies highlighted the opportunity to build resilient space capabilities and unlock potential for security and economic growth. The partnership marks a milestone in Planet’s end-to-end German space ecosystem, leveraging its European headquarters and Mission Control in Berlin.