BlackSky satellite imagery and analytics showing Russia’s military withdrawal from the port of Sevastopol in 2023. Photo: BlackSky

BlackSky has won multiple contracts for its analytics services through a new pilot program from the U.S. Space Force’s Global Data Marketplace (GDM), the company announced Friday. 

The Global Data Marketplace is part of Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking Program (TacSRT), a pilot program that has been in operation for a year to get commercial data analytics in the hands of combatant commands. According to the Space Force, the GDM is an online interface where TacSRT can advertise, award, and fund short-term surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking contracts with commercial vendors.

“One year in operation, this novel marketplace increases speed and accessibility to BlackSky’s reliable high-cadence, low-latency dynamic monitoring capabilities,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “BlackSky’s momentum with these quick-turn contracts represents a significant structural demand signal from a key customer for operationally relevant space-based products.”

BlackSky did not disclose specific terms of contracts it has won through TacSRT. The company said these competitive, short-duration contracts team up multiple commercial data providers. The contracts deal with specific requests for real-time insight into events like violent extremism, humanitarian and disaster response, and identifying potential threats.