BERLIN, Sept 25 (Reuters) - California-based Planet Labs

plans to set up its first satellite production site outside the

U.S. in Berlin, investing an eight-figure sum in the venture

that will see the firm double its high-resolution satellite

capacity, said CEO Will Marshall.

With the site, the satellite imagery firm will add up to 70

employees to the 150 employees already working at its

Berlin-based European headquarters, according to a statement.

The new high-resolution Pelican satellites should be able to

analyse images within minutes using artificial intelligence,

Marshall said on the sidelines of the BDI Space Congress in

Berlin on Thursday.

He pointed out that the conflict in Ukraine, for example,

had shown how important timely military reconnaissance by

satellite is.

Marshall said Planet Labs chose Berlin because of the talent

pool created by the German capital's universities and the

proximity to the German government, in addition to already

having its headquarters there.

"There's real value in being close to the government," he

said.

The decision follows a 240-million-euro ($281.83 million)

contract that Planet Labs received from the German government in

July for its satellite services.

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said Planet Labs' decision

was a "good signal" of Berlin's potential as a location for

high-tech companies to do business, adding that there were no

government subsidies for the state-of-the-art facility.

($1 = 0.8516 euros)