World Imagery Provider Selects Boeing to Launch Second Next-Generation Imaging Satellite
DigitalGlobe Taps Boeing Launch Services to Launch WorldView-2
LONGMONT, Colo., April 16 DigitalGlobe, provider of high-resolution commercial satellite imagery and geospatial information products, today announced that it has chosen Boeing Launch Services for the launch of WorldView-2, DigitalGlobe’s third remote-sensing satellite. WorldView-2 will offer the industry’s highest collection capacity, more frequent refresh and revisit rates, more spectral information and greater imaging agility. WorldView-2, a next-generation system being built independent of a U.S. Government contract, is currently scheduled to launch in mid-2009.
“After the successful launches of QuickBird and WorldView-1, Boeing was the obvious and natural choice for the launch of WorldView-2,” said Jill Smith, DigitalGlobe president and CEO. “We are thrilled to now have the first available launch slot for WorldView-2, the next satellite in our expanding constellation of sub-meter commercial imaging satellites. Boeing’s track record gives us the greatest confidence in another successful launch.”
A Delta II expendable launch vehicle will transport the WorldView-2 satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. DigitalGlobe’s launch of the WorldView-1 satellite on September 18, 2007, from Vandenberg AFB marked Boeing’s 75th consecutive successful launch of a Delta II rocket.
“Boeing Launch Services is pleased to be working with DigitalGlobe in launching the WorldView-2 satellite as their business continues to grow and prosper within the commercial satellite imaging market,” said Boeing Launch Services President Ken Heinly. “The continued reliability of our Delta II rockets will ensure another successful launch for both Boeing and DigitalGlobe.”
WorldView-2 will offer the highest collection capacity of half-meter world imagery (975,000 square kilometers per day) providing a substantial step in meeting the demand for geospatial content in the growing commercial markets that include online portals and consumer navigation. WorldView-2 will provide eight bands of multi-spectral for life-like true color imagery and greater spectral applications in the mapping and monitoring markets. The added spectral diversity will incorporate the industry standard of four multispectral bands (red, blue, green and near-infrared) and will also include four new bands (coastal, yellow, red edge, and near-infrared 2).
About Boeing
Boeing Launch Services is a customer-focused organization that combines strategic planning, business development and sales for Delta commercial launch service customers. It is part of the Space Exploration division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and is based in Huntington Beach, Calif.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world’s largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.4 billion business with 72,000 employees worldwide.
About DigitalGlobe
DigitalGlobe is a leading global content provider of high resolution world imagery solutions. Sourced from our own advanced satellite constellation and aerial network, our imagery solutions deliver real world perspective to governments, businesses, technology developers and humanitarian associations worldwide. The company’s imagery solutions consist of one of the world’s largest ImageLibraries growing at a rate of up to 1 million square kilometers per day distributed and accessed through online search and retrieval, production ready image layers, development tool-kits for internet enabled applications and devices, and software solutions for integration with GIS products & services. DigitalGlobe currently operates the highest resolution commercial satellite constellation with QuickBird and the first of two next-generation satellites, WorldView-1. The company plans to launch its second next-generation satellite, WorldView-2 in mid-2009.
DigitalGlobe is a registered trademark of DigitalGlobe.
