# Who does BlackSky Technology pay? Who are its key suppliers?
Canonical: https://valuechain.wiki/blacksky · Facet: suppliers · Updated: 2026-07-12T04:48:26.492029+00:00 · Source: ValueChain.wiki (cited money-flow graph)

**Citable summary**: BlackSky Technology's confirmed suppliers/cost counterparties include Rocket Lab, SpaceX (Falcon 9 rideshare launch) plus 1 undisclosed/aggregate relationship. Per the valuechain.wiki graph: 3 cost edges, backed by 5 dated sources, 0 of them primary filings (as of 2026-07-12).

### Rocket Lab (high)  → /rocket-lab.md
- metric: cumulative dedicated launches 17 launches · 2019-2026 · Cumulative dedicated Electron launches for BlackSky since 2019 (incl. 4 new in Feb 2026); contract values are confirmed_no_disclosed_value
- note: Primary launch supplier for Gen-3 deployment. Signed a 5-launch Gen-3 contract in Aug 2023 and 4 more dedicated Electron missions in Feb 2026, bringing cumulative launches since 2019 to 17 (BlackSky's most prolific launch provider). Contract dollar values undisclosed.
- [confirms] Satellite Evolution (EN, news, published 2026-02-27) https://www.satelliteevolution.com/post/rocket-lab-secures-latest-multi-launch-contract-with-blacksky-for-4x-dedicated-electron-missions: "Rocket Lab secured a multi-launch deal with BlackSky for four new dedicated Electron launches, bringing the total number of Electron launches for BlackSky since 2019 to 17... to help increase Gen-3 on orbit capacity."
- [confirms] Sankyung Today (KO, news, published 2025-02-19) https://www.sankyungtoday.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=50836: "In August 2023 BlackSky signed a 5-launch service contract with Rocket Lab, all for launching Gen-3 satellites... The Electron carrying one Gen-3 high-resolution EO/IR satellite lifted off from Rocket Lab's dedicated launch site in New Zealand."

### LeoStella (위성제조 자회사) (high)
- note: Washington-based manufacturer LeoStella builds BlackSky's satellites (incl. Gen-3). Originally a 50-50 JV between BlackSky and Thales Alenia Space; in Nov 2024 BlackSky bought out Thales's remaining 50% to optimize the Gen-3 supply chain, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. Deal terms undisclosed.
- [confirms] SpaceNews (EN, news, published 2024-11-08) https://spacenews.com/blacksky-buys-thales-alenias-stake-in-leostella-joint-venture/: "BlackSky acquired the 50% of LeoStella it did not already own from Thales Alenia Space... the small satellite manufacturer based in Washington state builds BlackSky's satellites. The company did not disclose the financial terms of the deal."
- [confirms] Via Satellite (EN, news, published 2024-11-07) https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2024/11/07/blacksky-acquires-full-stake-in-leostella-ahead-of-gen-3-constellation/: "LeoStella was a 50-50 joint venture between BlackSky and Thales Alenia Space... LeoStella, the Washington-based satellite manufacturer, produces BlackSky's satellites, including the forthcoming Gen-3 constellation... 'BlackSky acquired our partner's stake in LeoStella to help optimize the Gen-3 supply chain and production operations.'"

### Gen-3 위성군 구축 투자 (LeoStella 완전자회사화·다년 발사 선계약) (high)
- note: A structure of front-loading growth capital into the 35cm-class Gen-3 constellation — in November 2024 it acquired Thales's remaining 50% of LeoStella to fully in-source satellite manufacturing, and it pre-books multi-year dedicated Rocket Lab launches (17 cumulative) to control deployment pace. The FY2025 net loss of $70.3M is the cost of that forward investment, with leverage as the completing constellation converts the $345M backlog into revenue.
- [confirms] U.S. SEC (EDGAR) (EN, filing, published 2026-02-26) https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1753539/000175353926000009/exhibit991-blackskyq42025e.htm: "FY2025 10-K: revenue $106.6M (record), net loss $70.3M, backlog $345M (+32%). A growth phase driven by Gen-3 deployment."
- [mentions] SpaceNews (EN, news, published 2024-11-08) https://spacenews.com/blacksky-buys-thales-alenias-stake-in-leostella-joint-venture/: "Taking LeoStella wholly in-house is vertical integration to control the Gen-3 production bottleneck itself."
- [confirms] Via Satellite (EN, news, published 2024-11-07) https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2024/11/07/blacksky-acquires-full-stake-in-leostella-ahead-of-gen-3-constellation/: "BlackSky acquired Thales's remaining 50% of LeoStella to make it a wholly owned subsidiary (Nov 2024) — in-sourcing the Gen-3 supply chain and optimizing production."

### SpaceX (팰컨9 라이드셰어 발사) (mid)  → /spacex.md
- note: BlackSky put its early Global (Gen-2) satellites into orbit via SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare (alongside Starlink and on Transporter) — where Rocket Lab's dedicated launches control revisit timing and orbit, SpaceX rideshare is the complementary path that fills the fleet cheaply by sharing the ride. A second axis for lowering launch cost in a small-satellite EO business.
- [confirms] Via Satellite (EN, news, published 2021-12-02) https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2021/12/02/spacex-launches-starlink-batch-with-2-rideshare-blacksky-satellites/: "SpaceX Falcon 9 launched two BlackSky Global satellites as rideshare alongside a Starlink batch (Dec 2021)."

Reverse side: https://valuechain.wiki/blacksky/customers.md · Ripple: https://valuechain.wiki/blacksky/ripple.md

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