BlackSky teams up with ATLAS Space Operations for satellite communications

News Brief: Michigan-based ATLAS Space Operations says it will provide telemetry, commanding and data support for the Earth-observing satellite constellation that’s due to be put into low Earth orbit for Seattle-based BlackSky. In a news release, ATLAS says it will offer support via new ground station sites in Guam and Japan to maximize the constellation’s performance. The first four satellites are to be launched in the next year, with plans to expand to 60 satellites. BlackSky is part of Spaceflight Industries, and the satellites will be built by a Seattle-based joint venture called LeoStella that involves Spaceflight Industries and Thales Alenia Space.