GeoEye-1

Launch data: Designation  33331 / 08042A Launch date  06 Sep 2008 - 18:51 UT Launch site  Va, SLC-2W Launch vehicle  Delta-7420-10C Mission  Commercial: High-resolution Earth imaging Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  669 x 689 km Eccentricity  1,35E-03 Inclination  98.13 deg Period  98.32 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• The GeoEye-1 spacecraft is among the world’s highest resolution imaging satellites. Owned and operated by GeoEye of Dulles, Virginia, GeoEye-1 produces 0.41 meter resolution panchromatic (black & white) and 1.65 meter multispectral (color) images, for civil, commercial and government applications. Experienced an antenna anomaly in 12/09.
• General Dynamics AIS (acquired by Orbital in April 2010) was the prime contractor for GeoEye-1 spacecraft bus, procured the high resolution camera and optical telescope, and performed integration and testing of the satellite. The spacecraft design is based on the SA-200HP standard modular bus, with design heritage from the General Dynamics-built Coriolis, Swift, and Fermi spacecraft. The fully redundant GeoEye-1 spacecraft has a design life of seven years and a sophisticated attitude control system to provide a highly stable and highly agile imaging system.
• GeoEye-1 makes 15 orbits per day flying at an altitude of 681 kilometers or 423 miles with an orbital velocity of about 7.5 km/sec or 16,800 mi/hr

Mission details:

• The GeoEye-1 imaging satellite was launched from Vandenberg on Sep 6. The commercially operated GeoEye-1 has 0.4-meter resolution and will supply data to the US National Geo-spatial Intelligence Agency (NGA).
• The satellite was launched to a 668 x 687 km x 98.1 deg orbit.