WorldView-2 Successful Instrument Integration

WorldView-2 will collect an unmatched eight bands of multi-spectral imagery at 1.8 metre resolution for the truest depiction of the earth's natural color, in addition to collecting 46-centimetre resolution panchromatic imagery. It is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2009.

System level testing of the WorldView-2 satellite began in January 2009 and will continue until the satellite is shipped to Vandenberg AFB in California for launch. The environmental tests will confirm the design integrity of the spacecraft and will include thermal vacuum, electromagnetic compatibility, electromagnetic interference, vibration, shock and acoustic testing.

"The construction of the WorldView-2 satellite is on track and we are pleased with the progress to date. DigitalGlobe is fortunate to partner with Ball Aerospace and ITT to bring the most advanced remote sensing satellite to the market," said Jill Smith, chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe. "The construction of this satellite and our constellation expansion signifies our ability to provide the largest, most comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date library of imagery possible, and meet the growing demand for premium, high-resolution world imagery from enterprises, consumer navigation providers as well as governments."

The Ball Aerospace BCP 5000 spacecraft, utilized for both the WorldView-1 and Worldview-2, is designed to handle both next-generation optical and synthetic aperture radar remote sensing payloads and is currently meeting or exceeding all performance specifications on the operational WorldView-1 satellite. The high-performance BCP 5000 has a design life of more than seven years, and provides a platform with increased power, agility, flexibility, transmission capability and data storage.