A new GeoEye [GEOY] satellite, GeoEye-1, on Saturday launched successfully on a Delta II rocket from United Launch Alliance, Boeing [BA] and GeoEye announced.
Liftoff occurred from launch pad SLC-2W at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
The ULA Delta II rocket deployed the spacecraft approximately 58 minutes after liftoff.
GeoEye-1 will have the highest resolution of any commercial imaging system, capable of collecting images with a ground resolution of 16 inches (.41 meters) in panchromatic (black-and-white) mode.
“This launch signifies Boeing’s continued commitment to provide our commercial customers with the Delta II vehicle, which has a 98.5 percent launch success rate,” said Ken Heinly, director of Boeing’s Launch Products & Services and Boeing Launch Services president.
Under contract to Dulles, Va.-based GeoEye Inc., General Dynamics [GD] was responsible for the mission-system engineering, design and manufacture of the spacecraft; procurement and integration of the electro-optical assembly (camera); environmental testing of the integrated satellite, plus launch processing support, and ground-based command and control systems. General Dynamics also will conduct the on-orbit checkout, according to General Dynamics
The satellite’s imaging system was built by ITT [ITT], a significant subcontractor to General Dynamics. The system includes the optical telescope unit with outer barrel assembly and door, an advanced sensor system, focal plane assembly, power system and high-speed digital processing electronics, according to General Dynamics.
“We are excited about and eagerly await delivery of the first new imagery,” National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director Vice Adm. Robert B. Murrett said. “With the improved resolution, agility and capacity of the GeoEye-1 satellite, we anticipate increasing the use of commercial imagery to satisfy our geospatial production requirements.”
ULA delayed the launch to last Thursday from an earlier target of Aug. 22 to position resources to support receipt of down-range telemetry from the Delta II booster rocket after launch and initial flight from Vandenberg.
The support aircraft unexpectedly became unavailable, so ULA had to seek an alternative means of capturing this telemetry.