BlackSky develops automated orbital imaging for Gen-3 satellites, targeting emerging space surveillance and awareness missions

BlackSky is developing automated non-Earth imaging for future space-domain-awareness missions using its Gen-3 satellite architecture and a specialized imaging payload. Under a seven-figure, multi-year follow-on contract, the company plans mission software and space-to-space collection able to produce very-high-resolution imagery and AI-enabled analytics of objects such as unidentified satellites or debris in low Earth orbit. The concept could use capacity when spacecraft are over oceans or in eclipse while retaining Earth-observation functions, but the work remains under development and BlackSky has not identified the customer, deployment date, satellite quantity, or demonstrated operational performance.