PLANET LABS
Satellite Artwork
Creative Direction + Artwork + Prototyping + Laser Etching + Production

SEARCH+RESQ collaborated with Planet Labs to create laser-etched artwork for its fleet of Dove Earth-imaging satellites. The project brought together original artwork by Planet’s artists, quotes contributed by employees, and artwork created by SEARCH+RESQ—transforming the satellites’ exterior panels into a collection of stories and imagery carried into orbit.

Working within the precise requirements of flight-ready hardware, SEARCH+RESQ developed and tested the laser-etching process through a series of material studies and prototypes, refining the engraving techniques to translate each artwork onto the satellites while maintaining its detail and integrity.

Over several years, SEARCH+RESQ laser etched artwork onto more than 250 satellites, while also contributing original artwork to the collection—sending SEARCH+RESQ’s own work into Earth orbit.

ARTWORK IN ORBIT
Stories, illustrations, and ideas carried beyond Earth.

Original artwork by SEARCH+RESQ