Satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe has selected Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services to place its next generation WorldView-3 satellite into orbit in 2014.
WorldView-3, which will be launched on an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg AFB in…
Satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe has selected Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services to place its next generation WorldView-3 satellite into orbit in 2014.
WorldView-3, which will be launched on an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg AFB in California, will become DigitalGlobe’s third satellite to feature Control Moment Gyros (CMG).
The company aims to utilise this technology, which it claims gives its satellites the agility to collect imagery of larger areas faster and with greater flexibility, to meet a 10-year US$3.55bn agreement with the US government’s National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency (NGA).
DigitalGlobe expects its capital spend for this agreement, which is under the government’s EnhancedView programme, will total US$650m for 2010-2014.
Of this amount, “most of the funding goes toward the new satellite; some is allocated for ground stations and some for enhanced infrastructure to tie our operations more closely to NGA”, a spokesman confirmed to SatelliteFinance.
Announcing plans to launch its next satellite on 15 March, DigitalGlobe chairman and CEO Jill Smith said: “The need for up-to-date satellite imagery and the insights it provides to our government and commercial customers grows every day.
“We are significantly enhancing our commercial satellite constellation with WorldView-3, and are delighted to name Lockheed Martin and its United Launch Alliance subcontractor as our launch services partners. Their teams have consistently demonstrated the highest degree of reliability on many important space missions. We are confident that our own mission with them will be a success.” Meanwhile, rival US imagery specialist Geoeye is also pressing ahead with its own EnhancedView agreement.
Geoeye was awarded US$3.8bn for its NGA contract, which includes US$336.9m towards the accelerated development of its next-generation satellite, GeoEye-2. This satellite, which will also be launched with Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services on an Atlas V, is expected to be operational by 2013.
Posting Q4 2010 results on 15 March, the company announced that it has invested US$309.9m in the GeoEye-2 satellite programme so far. In 2013, the company also expects to begin the construction of another high-resolution satellite, GeoEye-3, which will be added to its constellation in 2017.
Geoeye’s adjusted net income for the three months to 31 December 2010 was US$9.5m, compared with US$6.8m for the corresponding period last year. The group’s revenues increased 12.7% to US$82.5m.
DigitalGlobe posted US$62.5m in adjusted EBITDA for the three months to the end of December 2010, compared with US$36.3m for the corresponding period last year. Q4 2010 revenue increased 14.7% year-on-year to US$83.6m.
