Gen-3 exceeding expectations for tasking-to-delivery performance amid positive customer demand on early very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery and AI-driven analytics samples

BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has successfully completed commissioning its first Gen-3 satellite. The first satellite continues to exceed expectations for tasking-to-delivery performance amid positive customer feedback on early very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery and AI-driven analytics samples.

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A BlackSky Gen-3 satellite image with AI-enabled analytics highlighting various-sized military planes and helicopters in Yelizovo, Russia, collected April 21, 2025. BlackSky’s advanced, proprietary automated detection and identification algorithms transform very high-resolution Gen-3 imagery into actionable insights at machine speed and scale over strategic and tactical objects of interest.

“BlackSky has demonstrated incredible, industry-leading speed for launch to on-orbit operations, completing commissioning for our first Gen-3 satellite a full month ahead of schedule,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “This pace of performance is a testament to our team’s experience, quality and rigor of our design, production and test practices, giving BlackSky a distinct advantage for scaling this service quickly and reliably for our customers.”

“The regular cadence of Gen-3 launches will produce a robust combination of capacity and low-latency, high-revisit capabilities to support near-term, early access customers and long-term demand for real-time space-based dynamic monitoring services,” said O’Toole.

Satellite commissioning processes begin immediately after deployment from a launch vehicle and typically includes initial tracking, making first contact and the sequential activation of critical subsystems. Follow-on activities include calibrating payloads, sensors, communications and control systems, and optimizing automated operations across the entire constellation-to-ground architecture. During the Gen-3 commissioning process, BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite quickly produced imagery within five days and AI-enabled analytics within three weeks of launch.

“BlackSky has received resounding positive customer response to early very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery samples. The crispness and detail have enhanced the utility of these data products by giving users the ability to make observations often accomplished with higher resolution systems. In many instances analysts were able to discern details like sunroofs on top of automobiles or individual people and their shadows. This incredible amount of detail, combined with AI-enabled analytics makes available an expansive new set of mission solutions and reduces the speed of analyses over large volumes of imagery from days to minutes,” said O’Toole.

BlackSky has made final preparations to send its second Gen-3 unit to Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, in anticipation of launch in Q2. The Gen-3 launch schedule is proceeding as planned as the company prepares to integrate high-cadence, very high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery into customers’ daily workflows later this year.

About BlackSky

BlackSky is a real-time, space-based intelligence company that delivers on-demand, high frequency imagery, analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of the most critical and strategic locations, economic assets, and events in the world. BlackSky owns and operates one of the industry’s most advanced, purpose-built commercial, real-time intelligence systems that combines the power of the BlackSky Spectra® tasking and analytics software platform and our proprietary low earth orbit satellite constellation.

With BlackSky, customers can see, understand and anticipate changes for a decisive strategic advantage at the tactical edge, and act not just fast, but first. BlackSky is trusted by some of the most demanding U.S. and international government agencies, commercial businesses, and organizations around the world. BlackSky is headquartered in Herndon, VA, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as BKSY. To learn more, visit www.blacksky.com and follow us on X.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to BlackSky. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document. If any of these risks materialize or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause their assessments to change. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in BlackSky’s disclosure materials filed from time to time with the SEC which are available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or on BlackSky’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.blacksky.com.

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“BlackSky has demonstrated incredible, industry-leading speed for launch to on-orbit operations, completing commissioning for our first Gen-3 satellite a full month ahead of schedule."