Planet Labs' Flock 1 comprised of 28 Earth observation Cubesats deployed from ISS

A release of 28 Planet Labs CubeSats known as Flock 1 from the International Space Station (ISS) has been completed.  The deployments began Feb. 11.  The CubeSats, each about the size of a loaf of bread, were released from pods mounted on the end of the space station's robotic arm.   The satellites were carried to the ISS aboard a Cygnus cargo spacecraft on an Antares rocket January 9.

The constellation of Planet Labs CubeSats will return imagery of Earth with a resolution between 3 and 5 meters. The revisit rate, or frequency with which Dove CubeSats pass over a given area, is unprecedented among existing satellite systems in orbit. Imagery will be collected at latitudes within 52 degrees of the equator, which encompass expanses north and south of the equator that cover the majority of the world’s populated areas and agricultural regions. The Flock 1 constellation will travel in a lower orbit than most satellites, at a distance between 240 and 400 miles above Earth. For comparison, weather and commercial communications satellites are often given geostationary orbits, which are circular orbits above the Earth’s equator at a distance of approximately 22,236 miles above Earth.  According to Planet Labs continuous whole-Earth images have the potential to serve many purposes simultaneously, from a single set of data.  According to this source the imagery from the Flock 1 satellites will be avaialble for free access by commercial and humanitarian users.   Flock 1 will allow scientists and the public to monitor natural disasters, deforestation, agricultural yields and other environmental changes.