Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., said June 30 it has completed the critical design review for the GeoEye-2 high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite two weeks ahead of schedule.
Dulles, Va.-based GeoEye in March 2010 selected Lockheed Martin over incumbent contractor General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems — now part of Dulles-based Orbital Sciences — to build the follow on to GeoEye-1. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed at the time, but following the satellite’s preliminary design review in November GeoEye executives said they expect GeoEye-2 to cost as much as $850 million when investment in an improved ground network ordered by its anchor U.S. government customer is included in the bill.
The satellite is expected to launch atop an Atlas 5 rocket in time to enter operations in 2013.
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