WorldView-2

WorldView-2
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorDigitalGlobe
COSPAR ID2009-055A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.35946
WebsiteDigitalGlobe WorldView-2
Mission durationPlanned: 7.25 years
Elapsed: 15 years, 2 months, 24 days
Spacecraft properties
BusBCP-5000[1]
ManufacturerBall Aerospace
Launch mass2,800 kg (6,200 lb)
Power3200 watts
Start of mission
Launch date8 October 2009, 18:51:01 (2009-10-08UTC18:51:01) UTC[2]
RocketDelta II 7920-10C, D-345[2]
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W[2]
ContractorBoeing / United Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Perigee altitude772 kilometers (480 mi)[3]
Apogee altitude773 kilometers (480 mi)[3]
Inclination98.40 degrees[3]
Period100.16 minutes[3]
Epoch25 January 2015, 04:29:44 UTC[3]
DigitalGlobe fleet

WorldView-2 (WV 2) is a commercial Earth observation satellite owned by DigitalGlobe. WorldView-2 provides commercially available panchromatic imagery of 0.46 m (18 in) resolution, and eight-band multispectral imagery with 1.84 m (72 in) resolution.[4]

It was launched 8 October 2009 to become DigitalGlobe's third satellite in orbit, joining WorldView-1 which was launched in 2007 and QuickBird which was launched in 2001.[5] It takes a new photograph of any place on Earth every 1.1 days.[6]

Design

Ball Aerospace built the spacecraft, which includes an optical telescope that can image objects 18 in (460 mm) in diameter.

Launch

WorldView-2 was launched 8 October 2009 from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Delta II flying in the 7920 configuration. The launch vehicle was provided by the United Launch Alliance and launch services were administered by Boeing.[7]

History

On 19 July 2016, the Joint Space Operations Center reported a debris causing event of at least 9 observable pieces, after which DigitalGlobe demonstrated the satellite to still be functional by releasing an image of downtown Oakland, California.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "WorldView 2, 3 (WV 2, 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "WORLDVIEW 2 Satellite details 2009-055A NORAD 35946". N2YO. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Worldview-2". Magazine article. Asian Surveying and Mapping. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  5. ^ "DigitalGlobe Successfully Launches Worldview-1". DigitalGlobe. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  6. ^ Phillips, Nicky; Grubb, Ben; Aston, Heath. "Detection of MH370 debris required a 'human eyeball operation'". Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ^ Ray, Justin (8 October 2009). "Satellite launched to give truer view of the world". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  8. ^ JSpOC [@JointSpaceOps] (19 July 2016). "19 Jul: JSpOC ID'd debris causing event..." (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2016 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ DigitalGlobe [@DigitalGlobe] (19 July 2016). "Collected by WorldView-2 today..." (Tweet). Retrieved 24 July 2016 – via Twitter.


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