RapidEye, a BlackBridge Company

RapidEye AG was a German geospatial information provider focused on assisting in management decision-making through services based on their own remote sensed imagery. The company operated a five Earth observation satellite constellation. 1996: The RapidEye business concept was designed by Kayser-Threde GmbH, based on a call for ideas from the DLR (German Aerospace Agency) on how to commercialize remote sensing made in Germany. 1998: RapidEye was established as an independent company in Munich with seed financing from a few private investors including Vereinigte Hagelversicherung, a German agricultural insurance provider. In 2004, funding was secured for the RapidEye satellite constellation and ground segment with the help of the European Union, the State of Brandenburg (Germany), a banking consortium consisting of Commerzbank, EDC (Export Development Canada) and KfW Banking Group. Originally located in Munich, the company relocated 60 km southwest of Berlin to Brandenburg an der Havel. Through a contract with the CCC (Canadian Commercial Corporation), MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA) was awarded as the prime contractor to build RapidEye's satellite system. 2008: On August 29, a Dnepr rocket (a refurbished ICBM missile) was successfully launched from Baikonur in Kazakhstan carrying RapidEye's constellation of five Earth observation satellites designed and implemented by MacDonald Dettwiler (MDA) of Canada. 2009: After the satellites completed their MPAR phase (consisting of testing and calibration) they became commercially operational in February 2009. 2011: RapidEye files for bankruptcy protection on 30 May. RapidEye Blackbridge Ltd. of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada acquired RapidEye AG on 29 August. 2012: December 18, the company relocated the company headquarters to Berlin, Germany. 2013: November 6, RapidEye officially changed its name to BlackBridge (www.blackbridge.com) Today, RapidEye refers to the satellites owned and operated by Planet Labs (www.planet.com)