GILBERT, Ariz., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The GeoEye-1 satellite, designed and built by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, was successfully launched into a 423-mile orbit today from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. GeoEye-1 is the world's highest-resolution commercial Earth imaging satellite, capable of offering half-meter color imagery to government and commercial customers.
"GeoEye-1 is a highly sophisticated imaging satellite that was delivered on an unprecedented schedule and continues our successful track record in the production of high performance satellites," said Dave Shingledecker, vice president and general manager of integrated space systems for General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. "We look forward to bringing this strong product offering to various government customers to provide a future space-based imaging system that directly support our troops, allies, and coalition partners in theaters of operation."
Under contract to Dulles, Va.-based GeoEye, Inc. , General Dynamics 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.
The satellite's imaging system was built by ITT (Rochester, NY), 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.
GeoEye-1 is part of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) NextView program. The NextView program is designed to ensure that the NGA has access to commercial imagery in support of its mission to provide timely, relevant and accurate geospatial intelligence in support of national security.
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, operates and maintains mission systems for defense, space, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, homeland security and homeland defense customers. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., the company specializes in space and ground systems; imagery processing; mission payloads; space vehicles; maritime subsurface, surface and airborne mission systems; and tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination programs for national intelligence. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.gd-ais.com/.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 84,600 people worldwide and anticipates 2008 revenues of approximately $29.5 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at http://www.generaldynamics.com/.
