WorldView-4
{{Short description|American Earth observation satellite}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = WorldView-4
| names_list = GeoEye-2
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size = 300px
| mission_type = Earth observation
| operator = DigitalGlobe
| COSPAR_ID = 2016-067A
| SATCAT = 41848
| website = https://www.maxar.com/
| mission_duration = 7 years (planned)
{{time interval|11 November 2016|7 January 2019}} (achieved)
| spacecraft_bus = LM-900 {{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/geoeye-2.htm|title=WorldView 4 (WV 4, GeoEye 2)|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|access-date=19 March 2016}}
| manufacturer = Lockheed Martin Space Systems
| launch_mass = {{cvt|2485|kg}}
| power =
| launch_date = 11 November 2016, 18:30:33 UTC
| launch_rocket = Atlas V 401 (AV-062)
| launch_site = Vandenberg, SLC-3E
| launch_contractor = United Launch Alliance
| entered_service = 26 November 2016 {{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/digitalglobe-releases-first-photo-from-worldview-4/|title=DigitalGlobe releases first photo from WorldView-4|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Caleb|last=Henry|date=2 December 2016|access-date=3 December 2016}}
| disposal_type = Declared unrecoverable
| declared = 7 January 2019
| deactivated =
| last_contact =
| decay_date = 30 November 2021
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit{{cite web|url=http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=41848|title=WorldView-4 - Orbite|publisher=Heavens Above|access-date=14 November 2016}}
| orbit_regime = Sun-synchronous orbit
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|609.95|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|613.28|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 97.98°
| orbit_period = 96.93 minutes
| orbit_repeat = 3 days {{cite web|url=http://www.satimagingcorp.com/satellite-sensors/geoeye-2/|title=GeoEye-2 (WorldView-4) Satellite Sensor (0.34m)|publisher=Satellite Imaging Corporation|access-date=19 March 2016}}
| apsis = gee
| telescope_name = GeoEye Imaging System-2
| telescope_type =
| telescope_diameter = {{cvt|1.1|m}} {{cite web|url=http://www.gim-international.com/content/news/primary-mirror-blank-assembly-for-geoeye-2|title=Primary Mirror Blank Assembly for GeoEye-2|work=GIM International|date=11 June 2008|access-date=19 March 2016}}
| telescope_focal_length =
| telescope_wavelength = Panchromatic: 450-800 nm
Multispectral: 450-920 nm
| telescope_resolution = Panchromatic: {{cvt|31|cm}}
Multispectral: {{cvt|124|cm}}
| programme = Maxar Fleet
| previous_mission = WorldView-3
| next_mission = WorldView Legion
}}
WorldView-4, previously known as GeoEye-2, was a third generation commercial Earth observation satellite launched on 11 November 2016, at 18:30:33 UTC. The spacecraft was operated by DigitalGlobe. With a maximum resolution of {{cvt|31|cm}}, WorldView-4 provided similar imagery as WorldView-3, the highest resolution commercially available at the time of its launch.{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/40874us-government-eases-restrictions-on-digitalglobe/|title=U.S. Government Eases Restrictions on DigitalGlobe|publisher=SpaceNews|date=11 June 2014|author=Warren Ferster|access-date=3 March 2023}}
The spacecraft suffered a failure in one of its control moment gyroscopes in January 2019, and operations were unable to be recovered. It reentered over New Zealand on 30 November 2021.{{cite tweet |author=Jonathan McDowell |user=planet4589 |title=The Worldview-4 commercial imaging satellite reentered over New Zealand at about 0520 UTC Nov 30. It was launched in 2016 but its imager failed in early 2019. |number=1465909153768030209 |date=1 December 2021}}
History
Work on GeoEye-2 began in October 2007 when commercial imagery company GeoEye selected ITT Corporation to begin work on long lead-time items for the satellite camera system.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/geoeye-initiates-development-of-its-third-generation-earth-imaging-satellite-58752892.html|title=GeoEye Initiates Development of its Third Generation Earth-Imaging Satellite|publisher=GeoEye|agency=PRNewswire|date=18 October 2007|access-date=2 April 2016}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.exelisinc.com/news/pressreleases/Documents/Archived%20Press%20Releases/2010/news_2010-08-31.pdf|title=ITT awarded contract to build the Imaging System for the GeoEye-2 Earth-Imaging Satellite|publisher=ITT Corporation|date=31 August 2010|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=20 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520130806/http://www.exelisinc.com/news/pressreleases/Documents/Archived%20Press%20Releases/2010/news_2010-08-31.pdf|url-status=dead}} In March 2010, an initial contract for construction of the spacecraft was awarded to Lockheed Martin Space Systems, which previously built the Ikonos imaging satellite.{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-selected-build-geoeye-2-imaging-satellite/|title=Lockheed Martin Selected To Build GeoEye-2 Imaging Satellite|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Warren|last=Ferster|date=11 March 2010|access-date=2 April 2016}} At the time, GeoEye-2 was planned for launch in late 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/30/AR2010043002133.html|title=GeoEye building satellite, awaits decision on major contract award|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Marjorie|last=Censer|date=3 May 2010|access-date=2 April 2016}} The spacecraft's preliminary design review was completed in November 2010, while its critical design review (CDR) was completed in June 2011.{{cite news|url=http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-economy/geoeye-2-completes-design-review/368184|title=GeoEye-2 completes design review|publisher=Dalje.com|agency=United Press International|date=1 July 2011|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=19 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419224242/http://arhiva.dalje.com/en-economy/geoeye-2-completes-design-review/368184|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/geoeye-2s-design-phase-finishes-ahead-schedule/|title=GeoEye-2's Design Phase Finishes Ahead of Schedule|publisher=SpaceNews|date=5 July 2011|access-date=2 April 2016}}
Lockheed Martin issued a contract to ITT Corporation in August 2010 to continue work on the camera system, and the company announced the completion of the system's critical design review on 1 March 2011.{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/geoeye-2-camera-passes-critical-design-review/|title=GeoEye-2 Camera Passes Critical Design Review|publisher=SpaceNews |date=7 March 2011|access-date=2 April 2016}} The system was delivered to Lockheed Martin in April 2012,{{cite press release|url=http://www.exelisinc.com/news/pressreleases/Pages/ITT-Exelis-delivers-imaging-system-for-next-generation,-high-resolution.aspx|title=ITT Exelis delivers imaging system for next-generation, high-resolution GeoEye-2 satellite|publisher=ITT Exelis|first=Irene|last=Lockwood|date=10 April 2012|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=29 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529155736/http://www.exelisinc.com/News/PressReleases/Pages/ITT-Exelis-delivers-imaging-system-for-next-generation,-high-resolution.aspx|url-status=dead}} and was mated to the satellite bus the following month.{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/05/lockheed-martin-milestones-two-spacecraft/|title=Lockheed Martin complete milestones on two upcoming spacecraft|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris |last=Bergin|date=2 May 2012|access-date=2 April 2016}}
DigitalGlobe agreed to purchase GeoEye in July 2012,{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-07-23/digitalglobe-agrees-to-acquire-geoeye-for-900-million |title=DigitalGlobe Agrees to Acquire GeoEye for About US$900 Million|publisher=Bloomberg|first1=Frederic|last1=Tomesco|first2=James|last2=Callan|date=23 July 2012|access-date=19 March 2016}} and finalized the merger in January 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2013/01/31/digitalglobe-completes-geoeye-buy.html|title=DigitalGlobe completes GeoEye buy|newspaper=Denver Business Journal|first1=Mark|last1=Harden|first2=Greg|last2=Avery|date=31 January 2013|access-date=19 March 2016}} At the time, each company had a satellite being prepared for launch: WorldView-3 and GeoEye-2. Because WorldView-3 offered multiple short-wavelength infrared channels in addition to the standard panchromatic and multiwavelength channels, the company chose to proceed with its launch and to place GeoEye-2 into storage.{{cite news|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1302/04geoeye2/|title=One commercial Earth-imager deferred in favor of another|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Justin|last=Ray|date=4 February 2013|access-date=19 March 2016}}
In July 2014, DigitalGlobe announced that GeoEye-2 had been renamed to WorldView-4 to better match the company's branding, and that, due to a projected increase in product demand, the spacecraft's launch had been scheduled for mid-2016.{{cite press release|url=http://investor.digitalglobe.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70788&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1953904|title=DigitalGlobe Announces Second 30-Centimeter Satellite to Launch in Mid-2016|publisher=DigitalGlobe|date=31 July 2014|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20161020143101/http://investor.digitalglobe.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=70788&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1953904|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_26254127/demand-moves-digitalglobe-speed-launch-high-powered-satellite|title=Demand moves DigitalGlobe to speed launch of high-powered satellite|newspaper=The Denver Post|first=Kristen Leigh|last=Painter|date=31 July 2014|access-date=2 April 2016}} The total cost of the spacecraft, including insurance and launch, is estimated at US$835 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/enhancedview-news-not-so-rosy-for-geoeye|title=EnhancedView News Not so Rosy for GeoEye|publisher=Space Policy Online|first=Marcia S.|last=Smith|date=23 June 2012|access-date=28 June 2016}}
The first public image from WorldView-4 was taken on 26 November 2016 and released on 2 December 2016.
In January 2019, WorldView-4 was announced to have suffered a failure in one of its control moment gyroscopes, and was considered no longer usable.{{cite news |url=https://spacenews.com/digitalglobe-loses-worldview-4-satellite-to-gyro-failure/|title=DigitalGlobe loses WorldView-4 satellite to gyro failure|publisher=SpaceNews|date=7 January 2019|access-date=23 February 2019}} WorldView-4 was insured against satellite failure, and in spring 2019 the company owning the satellite, Maxar Technologies, which had acquired DigitalGlobe in 2017, announced that they had received the full US$183 million insurance payment.{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/maxar-announces-geo-order-property-sale-and-debt-refinancing-sizes-worldview-legion-at-six-satellites/ |title=Maxar announces GEO order, property sale and debt refinancing, sizes WorldView Legion at six satellites|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Caleb|last=Henry|date=4 November 2019|access-date=20 November 2019}}
Launch
File:WorldView-4 launches on Atlas V rocket (161111-F-IV217-061).jpg
WorldView-4 was launched on 11 November 2016 at 18:30:33 UTC from Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 3E aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/11/11/commercial-satellite-launched-to-image-the-earth-in-high-resolution/|title=Commercial satellite launched to image the Earth in high-resolution|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Justin|last=Ray|date=11 November 2016|access-date=11 November 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/11/atlas-v-worldview-4-launch-vandenberg/|title=Atlas V launches WorldView-4 out of Vandenberg|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=William|last=Graham|date=11 November 2016|access-date=11 November 2016}} The launch vehicle launched in the 401 configuration with serial number AV-062, and was provided and administered by United Launch Alliance. This was the same launch vehicle that had been scheduled to launch the InSight Mars lander, which was delayed until 2018.{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/03/05/fate-of-nasas-insight-mars-mission-to-be-decided-soon/|title=Fate of NASA's InSight Mars mission to be decided soon|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=5 March 2016|access-date=6 July 2016}} The launch vehicle had been erected at the Vandenberg launch pad on 16 December 2015 for the InSight mission; after the WorldView-4 mission took the place of InSight, the launch vehicle was allowed to remain vertical at the pad protected by its mobile service tower.{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/14/idled-by-range-facility-rework-vandenberg-ready-to-launch-again-friday/ |title=Idled by Range facility rework for months, Vandenberg ready to launch again Friday|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Justin|last=Ray|date=14 September 2016|access-date=18 September 2016}} The WorldView-4 payload was fixed atop the rocket during the second week of September 2016.
Originally scheduled for launch on 29 June 2016, the flight was rescheduled to 15 September 2016 and then to 16 September 2016. During countdown on 16 September 2016, the launch was scrubbed due to a liquid hydrogen leak in the ground support equipment resulting in an ice ball forming on an umbilical cable. The launch was rescheduled for 18 September 2016 to allow for the replacement of a fill-and-drain valve, determined to be the cause of the leak.{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/atlas-v-worldview-4-launch-vandenberg/|title=Atlas V delays WorldView-4 launch from Vandenberg|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=William|last=Graham|date=18 September 2016|access-date=18 September 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917133338/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/atlas-v-worldview-4-launch-vandenberg/|url-status=dead}}
The Canyon Fire, a wildfire that burned over {{cvt|12742|acre|ha|order=flip}} on the southern section of Vandenberg,{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.com/news/2016/sep/29/vandenberg-beats-back-four-separate-fires/|title=Vandenberg Beats Back Four Separate Fires|newspaper=Santa Barbara Independent|first=Keith|last=Hamm|date=29 September 2016|access-date=29 September 2016}} resulted in a further launch delay so that the base could "concentrate {{interp|their|orig=our}} resources on the situation at hand".{{cite news|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/ula/nearby-wildfire-prompts-delay-in-atlas-v-launch/|title=Nearby wildfire prompts delay in Atlas V launch |publisher=Spaceflight Insider|first=Derek|last=Richardson|date=18 September 2016|access-date=18 September 2016}} As a result of scheduling availability on the Western Range, the flight was rescheduled for 26 September 2016. Continued efforts in fighting the Canyon Fire caused an indeterminate delay of the launch to no earlier than October 2016.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}} Four additional fires of varying sizes broke out between 22 and 27 September 2016; while all were contained by the end of the 27th, base commander John Moss stated that until all facilities and instrumentation could be surveyed, no preliminary launch date could be determined.{{cite news |url=https://www.noozhawk.com/article/vandenberg_afb_beefs_up_security_in_wake_of_fires_damage_still_unknown|title=Vandenberg AFB Beefs Up Security In Wake of Fires; Damage Still Unknown|work=Noozhawk |first=Janene|last=Scully|date=27 September 2016|access-date=29 September 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://santamariatimes.com/vafb-commander-addresses-fires-at-town-hall-forum/article_521eef13-7c39-5010-8bdd-c79b12e21f55.html|title=VAFB commander addresses fires at town hall forum|newspaper=Santa Maria Times|first=Willis|last=Jacobson|date=28 September 2016|access-date=29 September 2016}}
Repairs were made to the base's infrastructure affected by the wildfire, including power and communications, and the launch date was reset to 6 November 2016.{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/25/california-atlas-5-launch-delayed-by-wildfire-finally-rescheduled/|title=California Atlas 5 launch that was delayed by wildfire finally rescheduled |publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Justin|last=Ray|date=25 October 2016|access-date=31 October 2016}} The date was later pushed back to 11 November 2016 as ULA worked to fix "minor Atlas V booster issues" found during preparations.{{cite web|url=http://www.ulalaunch.com/atlas-v-to-launch-worldview4.aspx|title=Atlas V to Launch WorldView-4|publisher=United Launch Alliance|date=2 November 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20161103094033/http://www.ulalaunch.com/atlas-v-to-launch-worldview4.aspx|archive-date=3 November 2016|url-status=live}}
Instrument
The spacecraft's telescope was called the GeoEye Imaging System-2,{{cite web|url=http://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/675|title=Satellite: WorldView-4|publisher=World Meteorological Organization|date=17 February 2016|access-date=19 March 2016}} also known as SpaceView 110,{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlas-5-rocket-launches-commercial-imaging-satellite/|title=Atlas 5 launches civilian imaging satellite|publisher=CBS News|first=William|last=Harwood|date=11 November 2016|access-date=14 November 2016}} which was designed and built by ITT Corporation (later ITT Exelis and Harris Corporation). The telescope mirror was {{cvt|1.1|m}} in diameter. It provided panchromatic images at a highest resolution of 31 cm/px between 450 and 800 nanometres, and multispectral images at 124 cm/px in blue, green, red and near-infrared channels (450-510 nm, 510-580 nm, 655-690 nm and 780-920 nm, respectively).
References
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://worldview4.digitalglobe.com/ WorldView-4] at DigitalGlobe.com
- [http://lockheedmartin.com/worldview4 WorldView-4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013145830/http://lockheedmartin.com/worldview4 |date=13 October 2016 }} at LockheedMartin.com
{{DigitalGlobe|state=autocollapse}}
{{ITT Corporation}}
{{Orbital launches in 2016}}
Category:Commercial imaging satellites of the United States
Category:Lockheed Martin satellites and probes