Planet Labs PBC (Planet) distributes optical to near-infrared data acquired by the Planet small satellite constellations: PlanetScope, RapidEye, and SkySat.
The PlanetScope constellation of Dove satellites can image Earth’s entire land surface every day with a resolution of 3 m/pixel. Dove constellation satellite sensors have ongoing new generations that have additional band and larger square kilometers per individual image captured.
RapidEye is a retired constellation of five satellites operational from 2009 to 2020. The constellation captured more than 660,000 images of Earth’s total landmass. RapidEye image resolution is approximately 5 m/pixel.
SkySat satellites can revisit any location on Earth up to 10 times a day, obtaining 50 cm/pixel high-resolution imagery. CSDA has acquired a limited set of SkySat data.
Planet was one of the companies selected for evaluation in the original CSDA Pilot.
NASA-purchased Planet data are available to U.S. Federal civil agencies, including the National Science Foundation, and their contractors, subcontractors, partners, and grantee supporting entities for scientific use.
Approved scientists can use Planet data for research, experiments, evaluation, and development—including basic and applied research—that may lead to journal publications, licensed user-derived data products, white papers and maps for use by the broader scientific community, or to support logistical planning of future scientific research experiments such as field campaigns.
Planet data may not be used operationally for non-scientific logistical planning, response efforts outside U.S. Government agency applied science missions, management of human resources, remote monitoring (i.e., construction, facility monitoring, etc.), enforcing compliance of regulations, and law enforcement and investigations.
Requesting PlanetScope and RapidEye data:
- Contact CSDA and provide a name, email address, and other pertinent information (grant number, contract number, etc.) for data access approval
- CSDA will verify the request, notify Planet, and initiate the creation of a user account
- Once an account is approved and created, the user will receive notification and may then search and browse imagery using the Planet Explorer data discovery tool and place a data request order
- A data download URL will be sent to the user via email or the user can download the data directly from the Planet API
Each PlanetScope and RapidEye user will be allocated a 5 million km2 quota. PlanetScope data will only be available 30 days after acquisition by the satellite constellation. However, exceptions to both conditions can be made based on additional justifications.
Accessing SkySat data:
- Contact CSDA and provide a name, email address, and other pertinent information (grant number, contract number, etc.) for data access approval
- Search the CSDA Smallsat Data Explorer (SDX; note: An Earthdata Login is required for access)
- Review discovered data and download direct from the SDX or using the Bulk Download Tool
Data products and derivatives must contain a copyright notice similar to the following:
- For data products: “© Planet Labs PBC {Year}. All rights reserved.”
- For derivatives: “Includes copyrighted material of Planet Labs PBC. All rights reserved.”
- A joint copyright notice may be used as appropriate
Authorized users should send Planet a courtesy copy of any publications that include Planet data.
To help us identify your publications, we request that when you publish using these data, please include the following acknowledgment:
"This work utilized data made available through the NASA Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program."