United States / Argentina · Earth-observation constellation with onboard AI
This project focuses on earth-observation constellation with onboard AI.
Satellogic launched Merlin.01 on October 1, 2026 into sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit. The company reported first-pass contact, an onboard software update within two days, stable spacecraft health and deployed solar arrays. Merlin is designed to process imagery with AI onboard, use inter-satellite links to cue NewSat Mark VI satellites, and deliver alerts within 30 minutes. Payload testing and commissioning were still pending, so achieved AI performance and full service are not established.
Satellogic · First satellite in early operations
Scope: Mission-specific processing · Merlin primarily processes its own Earth-observation imagery and cues related Satellogic sensing satellites; the onboard compute serves the sensing mission.
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Technical specifications not disclosed
Figures retain their disclosed units and scope. Launched hardware does not establish demonstrated performance; targets may change. Not disclosed means no figure in the reviewed sources.
Strategic partner
Program organization: Satellogic
PartnershipThe release establishes operational collaboration and imagery support, not a disclosed supplier contract value or payload-commissioning result.
Announced 13 Oct 2026 · Evidence checked 29 Oct 2026
Satellogic and HEO release images of Merlin.01 in orbit (opens in a new tab)Transporter-18 launch service for Merlin.01 into sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit.
The operator identifies the launch provider and completed launch. Contract value, booking date and allocation within the rideshare are undisclosed.
Announced 2 Oct 2026 · Evidence checked 29 Oct 2026
Satellogic announces successful launch of first Merlin satellite (opens in a new tab)Manual review 29 Oct 2026. Compared Satellogic’s October 2 launch release and October 13 health update. One Merlin.01 spacecraft launched, contacted ground, updated software and showed deployed arrays. Onboard AI, 30-minute alerts and inter-satellite cueing remain design claims until payload commissioning and results are reported. Primary body last observed not available. Source monitoring: ongoing. Source collection and substantive profile review are separate checks. Plans and dates may change.
Satellogic official releases · 2 and 13 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)Verified announcements and milestones linked to this project, newest first.
Satellogic reported first-pass contact, an onboard software update within two days and stable power and thermal systems; payload testing and commissioning remained next.
NewSat-47 imagery and Satellogic telemetry indicated the arrays were deployed and sun-facing; the spacecraft remained in early operations.
Satellogic reports Merlin.01 launched on Transporter-18 into sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit and made ground contact.
