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Planet Labs starts satellite production in Berlin – 70 jobs in sight!
The US company Planet Labs is opening a satellite location in Berlin in 2025, investing 45 million euros and creating 70 jobs.
Planet Labs starts satellite production in Berlin – 70 jobs in sight!
The space industry has taken a huge leap in recent years, and now a Californian company is moving to Berlin! Planet Labs, known for its innovative satellite solutions, announced on September 25, 2025 its plans to open a new production site in the German capital. The investment volume? Around 45 million euros! This will not only create 70 new jobs, but also double the company's production capacity.
Company CEO Will Marshall announced this exciting news at the BDI Space Congress. “This is the first production location for us outside of California,” Marshall announced while explaining the benefits of the new Berlin facility. The state-of-the-art facility will be manufactured specifically for the production of Pelican satellites used for reconnaissance and agricultural purposes.
Space economy on the rise
The development of the German space economy is an impressive example of technological innovation and geopolitical relevance. In countries like Bavaria and Bremen, which play a key role in the European space industry, thousands of jobs have now been created in this sector. By 2024, around 10,000 people could already be working in the German space industry.
Germany is also one of the largest donors to the European Space Agency (ESA), also thanks to the ever-growing interest and support from the government. Around 2.3 billion euros are planned for aerospace in the 2025 federal budget. These investments have the potential to generate economic returns of between 3 and 7 euros per euro invested, according to ESA research.
New orders and technology
Planet Labs also received a new order from the federal government worth 240 million euros for satellite services in July, further underlining the company's ambitions in Germany. The company's satellites use over 150 small satellites equipped with artificial intelligence to analyze images within minutes. Marshall particularly emphasized the importance of timely military intelligence in the context of current geopolitical challenges, such as the Ukraine conflict.
Interestingly, the federal government plans to increase funding for space research and use in the coming years. This commitment could help establish Germany as a hub for Planet Labs in Europe, although company officials say there will be no government subsidies for the location.
The discussion about German space policy continues to be characterized by various challenges. Inefficient bureaucracy, high energy costs and a confusing tax system represent significant hurdles. Nevertheless, recent developments show that Germany is ready to take an active role in the global space economy. The prospects are bright, and the next few months could be crucial for the future of the German space industry.
Stay tuned as things remain exciting in the space sector!
For more information you can read the reports from RBB24, Onvista as well as the prospects of the space industry Kofner read up.