Overseeing a Stable of Satellites

by | Feb 26, 2013

WorldView-3 is expected to be the first super-spectral, high-resolution commercial satellite. WorldView-3 will provide 31-centimeter panchromatic resolution, 1.24-meter multispectral resolution in eight spectral bands, and 3.7-meter short-wave infrared resolution in eight additional spectral bands.

Following its merger with GeoEye, DigitalGlobe will finish building the GeoEye-2 satellite, then preserve it as a spare. Meanwhile, the company's WorldView-3 satellite remains on track for a 2014 launch.

DigitalGlobe plans to complete WorldView-3 on its original schedule to be ready for a mid-2014 launch to meet the requirements of its EnhancedView contract with the U.S. government. That contract calls for completion and launch of WorldView-3, which will offer the most spectral diversity available commercially and be the first satellite to offer multiple short-wave infrared bands that allow for accurate imaging through haze, fog, dust, smoke and other airborne particulates. DigitalGlobe’s largest customer, the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, confirmed the requirements of DigitalGlobe’s EnhancedView contract remain unchanged.

After careful consideration and discussions with our largest customer and others, we have determined that launching WorldView-3 and preserving GeoEye-2 as a ground spare will best meet the collective needs of customers and shareowners alike,” said Jeffrey R. Tarr, DigitalGlobe's president and CEO. “This plan reduces our risk profile and capital footprint while giving our customers access to the most advanced Earth observation capabilities available commercially. Furthermore, as we move forward, if demand exceeds our expectations, we will be well positioned to quickly expand our constellation.

Image courtesy of DigitalGlobe.

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